Nigeria is witnessing a remarkable surge in its telecommunications landscape as the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, announces that 5G subscriptions have reached an impressive milestone of half a million. This achievement, coupled with a broadband penetration rate of 47.01% as of July 2023, signifies a substantial leap forward in the country’s telecom sector.
Prof. Danbatta, speaking in Kano, highlighted the significant strides made by the Nigerian telecom industry since 2015. In July, he reported that 5G subscriptions had exceeded 60,000, demonstrating the rapid pace of adoption. The nation’s ambitious goals include achieving 50% broadband penetration by the end of 2023 and further elevating it to 70% by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the telecommunications sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had doubled, rising from 8% in 2015 to a remarkable 16% on a quarterly basis as of the second quarter of 2023. The sector’s growth is undeniable, with investments surging from $38 billion in 2015 to an impressive $75 billion with continuous growth.
One significant contributor to this financial boost has been the sale of 5G C-Band Spectrum, which generated over $847.8 million in revenue for the Federal Government, showcasing the financial potential of advanced telecom technologies.
In alignment with these achievements, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed that Nigeria is actively seeking partnerships to extend telecommunication connectivity to unserved and underserved communities, emphasizing the country’s commitment to bridging digital divides and ensuring inclusive access to modern communication services.