Nigeria's broadband penetration reaches a record 58.22% in August as data use climbs
The Nigerian Communications Commission's August figures show broadband and data growing faster than the subscriber base.
Key findings
- Broadband penetration reached 58.22% in August 2026, up 9.41 percentage points from 48.81% in August 2025 and the highest in NCC's monthly series.
- Broadband subscriptions rose to 126.2 million, 20.0% more than the 105.2 million of a year earlier.
- Internet data usage reached 1.76 million terabytes, up 5.7% on July and 52.4% on August 2025.
- Active telephony subscriptions rose by 2.3 million in the month to 197.4 million, 15.1% above August 2025.
Nigeria's broadband penetration reached 58.22% in August 2026, according to industry statistics the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) published on 12 October. That is up from 57.4% in July and 48.81% in August 2025, a rise of 9.41 percentage points in a year, and the highest reading in the regulator's monthly broadband series.
Broadband subscriptions rose to 126.2 million from 124.4 million in July, and were 20.0% higher than the 105.2 million of a year earlier. Usage grew faster still. Operators reported 1.76 million terabytes of internet data in August, up 5.7% on the 1.66 million terabytes of July and 52.4% on the 1.15 million terabytes of August 2025. That is also the largest monthly volume since NCC began publishing the series in 2023.
- Broadband penetration
- 58.22%
- Broadband subscriptions
- 126.2 million
- Data usage
- 1.76 million TB
- Active subscriptions
- 197.4 million
Active telephony subscriptions added 2.3 million in the month to 197.4 million, and have risen every month since July 2025. They remain below the 217.0 million of April 2024. In May 2024 lines not linked to a National Identity Number stopped counting as active, and the total fell to 172.1 million, a drop of 44.8 million that reflects a change in who counts as a subscriber rather than people leaving the market. Active internet subscriptions, at 158.5 million against 157.7 million in July, are likewise still under their April 2024 level of 164.6 million.
Why it matters
Broadband and data are growing faster than the number of lines. Broadband subscriptions rose 20.0% in a year against 15.1% for active telephony subscriptions, and data volumes rose 52.4%. More of the subscriber base is on faster connections and each connection is carrying more traffic, which is the demand side of the case for investment in networks and fibre. Penetration is measured against NCC's assumed national population, so it tracks subscriptions rather than individual users: one person can hold more than one line.
What to watch
- Whether data volumes keep growing faster than subscriptions in NCC's September figures.
- Revisions: NCC restates its full history in every monthly file, so the July and August figures may change.
- Whether active subscriptions return to their April 2024 level now that growth has resumed after the NIN-SIM disconnection.
SourceIndustry statistics, August 2026 (opens in a new tab)Nigerian Communications CommissionIndustry statistics, published 12 October 2026.
Methodology
All figures are from the Nigerian Communications Commission's monthly industry statistics as served by Dataminal, using the newest published statement of each figure. August 2026 is compared with July 2026 and with August 2025; percentage changes and point differences are Dataminal's arithmetic on the published values. Comparisons with April 2024 cross the May 2024 NIN-SIM disconnection, which changed who counts as an active subscriber, and are given as levels only. Broadband penetration is NCC's own figure, measured against its assumed national population.