Despite significant improvements in 5G coverage during the third and fourth quarters of 2025, a new industry performance report shows that a digital divide persists between urban and rural connectivity in Nigeria.
The Q4 2025 Industry Performance Report, released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), highlights gains in major cities but continued disparities in network quality from subscribers’ perspectives.
In Lagos, the 5G coverage gap narrowed from 70.9% in Q3 to 55.4% in Q4 2025, indicating a positive trend. Similarly, in Abuja, the gap reduced from 65.6% in Q3 to 47.4% in Q4, showing marked improvement in the federal capital.
Speaking during a webinar organized by the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, emphasized the ongoing urban-rural divide, particularly in download and upload speeds. In urban areas, the median download speed across all networks was 20.5 Mbps, while rural areas averaged only 11 Mbps.
The report underscores the need for continued investment in rural 5G infrastructure to ensure equitable access to high-speed connectivity, which is critical for bridging the digital gap and supporting economic growth nationwide.
