Broadband Penetration Maintains Steady Growth as Telecoms Contribution to GDP Increases - THISDAYLIVE

Nigeria’s broadband penetration has maintained a steady growth in the past one year, reaching 57.40 per cent growth with 124.4 million broadband subscriptions in July this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The statistics also revealed an increase in the contribution of the telecoms sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which reached 9.72 per cent in Q2, 2026, up from 9.19 per cent recorded in Q1, 2026.

The statistics, which THISDAY obtained from the official website of the NCC, showed that as at August 2025, broadband penetration was 48.81 per cent, with 105 million broadband subscriptions.

In September 2025, broadband penetration increased to 49.34 per cent, with a corresponding growth in broadband subscriptions of 106 million.

In October 2025, Nigeria recorded another growth in broadband penetration, which reached 49.89 per cent, with a corresponding growth in broadband subscriptions of 108 million.

In November 2025, broadband penetration increased again to 50.58 per cent, with 109 million broadband subscriptions, before reaching 51.97 per cent broadband penetration level, with 112 million broadband subscriptions in December 2025.

In January 2026, Nigeria witnessed another broadband penetration growth, which reached 53.07 per cent, with 115 million broadband subscriptions.

In February 2026, broadband penetration increased again to 53.86 per cent, with 116 million broadband subscriptions. In March 2026, there was a further increase in broadband penetration to 54.30 per cent and a subsequent increase in broadband subscriptions to 117 million.In April 2026, broadband penetration increased again to 55.67 per cent, with a further increase in broadband subscriptions to 120 million. As at May 2026, there was another increase in broadband penetration, which reached 56.11 per cent, with a subsequent increase in broadband subscriptions to 121 million.

In June 2026, broadband penetration further increased to 56.79 per cent, with another increase of 123 million broadband subscriptions, before reaching 57.40 per cent broadband penetration level, with an increased broadband subscriptions of 124 million in July 2026.

According to the statistics, the telecoms sector contribution to Nigeria’s GDP has also maintained steady growth in the last two years, but with minimal fluctuations.

From the statistics, the telecoms sector contribution to GDP in Q1, 2024 was 14.58 per cent, but it dropped to 8.93 per cent in Q2, 2024, with a further drop to 7.51 in Q3, 2024. Telecoms contribution to GDP however picked up in Q4, 2024 to reach 7.80 per cent, with a further increase in Q1, 2025 to 8.50 per cent. The NCC’s statistics also showed another increase in telecoms sector contribution to GDP in Q2, 2025, which reached 9.20 per cent.

In Q3, 2025, telecoms contribution to GDP, however dropped to 7.67 per cent, but increased again to 8.12 per cent in Q4, 2025.

In Q1, 2026, telecom sector contribution increased again to 9.19 per cent, with a further increase to 9.72 per cent in Q2, 2026.             

Giving reasons for the steady growth in broadband penetration and broadband subscriptions, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, who doubles as the spokesperson for all licensed telecoms operators in Nigeria, attributed the growth to the stable regulatory policies and initiatives of the NCC, which he said, impacted the telecoms sector’s contribution to GDP.

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