by Nigeria’s internet data usage has reached a historic milestone, exceeding 1 million terabytes in January 2025. This remarkable achievement underscores the country’s growing digital landscape and increasing reliance on online services.
A New Era for Digital Consumption
Nigeria’s internet data usage has been on an upward trajectory, driven by increased adoption of streaming services, remote work, and social media engagement. This surge reflects not only the expanding broadband infrastructure but also a shift towards more data-intensive activities.
The growth in Nigeria’s Internet Data Usage is particularly notable given the challenges faced by the telecommunications sector. Despite a decline in active internet users from 163.8 million to 139.2 million, data consumption rose significantly.
Nevertheless, January’s data usage of 27,475 terabytes was a significant decrease from the 973,455 terabytes reported in December 2024, even with this unprecedented accomplishment. Holiday activities, which usually see a spike in online interaction, were probably the main cause of December’s high usage.
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Factors Driving Increased Data Consumption
Several factors contribute to this rise in Nigeria’s internet data usage:
- Streaming Services: The popularity of streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube continues to grow.
- Remote Work: More Nigerians are embracing remote work options due to economic conditions.
- Digital Payments: Increased use of digital payment systems is also driving up data usage.
These trends indicate that despite economic challenges and declining user numbers, Nigerians are consuming more data than ever before.
Also read: Sierra Leone Introduces National Instant Payment System
Impact on Telecom Operators
The boom in Nigeria’s Internet Data Usage has been beneficial for telecom operators. MTN Nigeria reported significant growth in its subscriber base and market share. The company now holds over 51% of the market, with approximately 84.6 million subscribers as of December 2024.
Airtel Nigeria also saw an increase in subscribers during this period. However, other operators like 9mobile continue to struggle with low market shares.
Despite these gains in data consumption, Nigeria still faces significant challenges regarding broadband penetration. As of December 2024, broadband penetration stood at just over 44%, far short of the government’s target of achieving 70% by year-end.
To meet this ambitious goal within such a tight timeline will require substantial investment and expansion efforts across Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Related: Nigeria launches “Service-Wise GPT” to transform public service.
Future Prospects for Digital Growth
Looking ahead, there are opportunities for further growth as more Nigerians gain access to faster internet speeds through technologies like 4G and emerging adoption rates for 5G networks.
As technology continues to evolve rapidly around us today, so does our need & desire to stay connected digitally, which makes it imperative that we keep pushing forward with innovative solutions & investments into our digital ecosystem locally within Africa.
Related: Nigeria’s Tech Revolution: Leading the Way in African Startups
