Manny Ita
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that the country’s average internet download speed in urban areas rose to 20.5 megabits per second (Mbps) in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from the 19Mbps recorded in the third quarter. According to the latest Industry Performance Report released on Friday, January 30, 2026, this growth in cities stands in contrast to a decline in rural connectivity, where average speeds dropped to 11Mbps from 12.7Mbps in the previous quarter. NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, noted during a stakeholder webinar that while the urban figure represents a median across all mobile operators, rural performance remains a primary concern. “Earlier in the year, the download speed in rural areas was about 8 to 9 Mbps. At the end of the year, we’re doing about 11, so there’s a slight improvement, though there was a decline when you compare Q3 strictly to Q4,” Ogoh stated.
The disparity in performance is largely attributed to the concentrated deployment of over 2,800 new network sites in urban centers to address congestion. This investment pattern has also affected latency, with urban users enjoying a superior experience compared to those in rural locations who often struggle with interactive platforms and video uploads. Ogoh observed that “the challenge this provides is that when you are in rural areas, you basically have less experience-wise, especially if you’re using video services or uploading large content.” Market data indicates that MTN currently leads in urban latency, while MTN and Airtel maintain comparatively better performance in rural regions over competitors like Glo and T2.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized that the current progress is a direct result of over $1 billion in industry investments following the return to market-driven pricing in early 2025. This policy shift allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50% for the first time in nearly a decade, reversing years of under-investment caused by stagnant pricing. “In 2025, over $1 billion in industry investment resulted in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and capacity nationwide. Much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments,” Maida stated. The Commission confirmed it has secured commitments from operators to exceed these investment levels in 2026 as part of a continued effort to bridge the national digital divide.
