Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure as internet data consumption in Nigeria increased by nearly 47 per cent year-on-year to more than 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed the figures on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the opening of the inaugural Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja.
According to the NCC’s industry statistics, data usage rose from 1,131,255.90 terabytes in July 2025 to 1,662,021.45 terabytes in July 2026, representing an increase of approximately 46.9 per cent.
Maida said the sharp increase demonstrates the growing demand for reliable digital connectivity and reinforces the need for continued investment to expand networks while improving service quality for existing users.
NCC Calls for More Investment
Speaking at the two-day investment forum, Maida said Nigeria’s telecommunications sector must keep pace with rapidly changing patterns of digital consumption.
He said increasing reliance on cloud services and artificial intelligence would place additional demands on telecommunications networks, making sustained investment necessary to meet the needs of consumers and businesses.
The forum, organised in partnership with Swedfund and Ookla, brings together investors, telecommunications operators, financiers, development partners, state governments, infrastructure companies and technology stakeholders.
The objective is to identify viable connectivity projects and explore financing and partnership arrangements capable of expanding digital infrastructure across the country.
Maida urged investors and other stakeholders to identify projects that can attract commercial investment, shared infrastructure financing and development finance.
He said the broader objective was to ensure that investment in connectivity translates into improved opportunities for Nigerians to work, learn, conduct business and access essential services.
Data Usage Continues to Grow
The latest figures show the scale of demand placed on Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
In July 2025, Nigerians consumed about 1.13 million terabytes of internet data. Twelve months later, usage had risen to approximately 1.66 million terabytes.
The increase of more than 530,000 terabytes in one year comes as smartphones, mobile applications, video services, cloud computing and other digital platforms become increasingly integrated into everyday activities.
The NCC’s historical statistics also show that monthly internet usage has risen substantially over the longer term. In July 2024, recorded usage was about 829,584 terabytes, meaning July 2026 consumption was roughly double the level recorded two years earlier.
The growth in consumption is occurring alongside changes in the technologies used to access mobile services.
NCC data shows that in July 2026, 4G accounted for 54.31 per cent of connections by network generation, while 5G accounted for 4.74 per cent. 2G accounted for 36.54 per cent and 3G for 4.42 per cent.
Investment Needed Beyond Network Expansion
The NCC’s appeal is not limited to building additional network infrastructure.
Maida said investment is also required to improve the experience of people who are already connected.
This includes addressing areas affected by network congestion, weak coverage and inadequate infrastructure while ensuring that new investments reach locations where connectivity gaps remain.
The Commission’s second-quarter 2026 report similarly identified weak signal coverage, poor signal quality and congestion in underserved areas as challenges requiring targeted infrastructure deployment and network optimisation.
The NCC said its investment-planning approach is increasingly based on data that can identify the gap between available infrastructure and actual consumer usage.
Such information can help regulators and investors determine where additional infrastructure or network upgrades may have the greatest effect.
Right of Way Remains an Issue
Another area highlighted by the NCC is the cost and difficulty of deploying telecommunications infrastructure.
Maida said the Commission was engaging state governments on Right of Way issues, which can affect the speed and cost of laying fibre and deploying other network infrastructure.
The Commission has also identified other industry challenges, including fibre cuts, vandalism, kidnapping and difficulties accessing some telecom sites.
Resolving such infrastructure challenges is important because increasing data demand requires networks capable of handling greater traffic while maintaining reliable service.
Tariff Adjustment and Network Investment
The NCC also pointed to the 2025 telecommunications tariff adjustment as part of the sector’s response to financial pressures facing operators.
Maida said the adjustment was intended to improve the financial capacity of telecommunications companies to invest in network infrastructure and service improvements.
The tariff adjustment was accompanied by an expectation of better service delivery to consumers, according to the NCC.
The relationship between higher telecommunications prices, operators’ investment capacity and consumer service quality remains an important issue for the industry.
For consumers, increased investment needs to translate into reliable connectivity and improved service, particularly as dependence on digital services continues to grow.
NCC Expands Use of Consumer and Network Data
The Commission is also using data from different sources to identify service gaps.
Maida said the NCC was working with Swedfund and Ookla to obtain independent information about the quality of connectivity experienced by Nigerians.
The Commission is combining network performance information with consumer complaints and data on interventions carried out by telecommunications operators.
According to the NCC, this approach is intended to help identify service problems by location and determine where additional infrastructure or upgrades may be required.
The Commission’s Consumer Data Lab, funded by the Gates Foundation and developed with Innovations for Poverty Action, brings together different data sources through a dashboard designed to support this analysis.
Why the Growth Matters
The rise in data consumption reflects the expanding role of telecommunications in Nigeria’s economy and daily life.
For businesses, reliable connectivity supports digital payments, online commerce, cloud-based services and communication with customers.
For students and workers, it supports online learning, remote work and access to digital information.
Government services are also increasingly delivered through digital platforms, making reliable internet access an important part of public-service delivery.
The growing use of artificial intelligence and cloud services is likely to increase the amount and complexity of data traffic handled by telecommunications networks, making infrastructure capacity an increasingly important consideration for Nigeria’s digital economy.
However, rising consumption alone does not necessarily mean that every consumer is receiving better service. The NCC’s own infrastructure reports continue to identify areas where coverage, network quality and congestion remain challenges.
Nigeria Marks 25 Years of GSM
The investment forum comes as Nigeria marks 25 years of GSM telecommunications services.
The NCC said the introduction of GSM in 2001 followed policy reforms and a transparent licensing process that encouraged private-sector investment in the telecommunications market.
The sector has since developed from a relatively limited telephone market into a major part of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The latest data-consumption figures illustrate how substantially demand for connectivity has changed since the beginning of the GSM era.
What Happens Next
The NCC’s investment forum is expected to focus on identifying practical connectivity projects and the financing structures needed to implement them.
The Commission is also continuing engagement with state governments over infrastructure deployment issues, including Right of Way, while using network and consumer data to identify locations requiring additional investment.
For investors, the growing volume of data traffic presents evidence of substantial demand for connectivity services. For regulators and consumers, the challenge is ensuring that additional investment produces broader coverage, reliable networks and improved service quality.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is therefore entering another phase in which rising digital demand will need to be matched by infrastructure capacity, financing and effective regulation.
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Sources
- Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
- Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum
- The Authority
- Independent Newspaper Nigeria
- MSME Africa
