Nigeria is planning a major expansion of mobile spectrum capacity before the end of the decade as rapidly rising data consumption threatens to outstrip existing network resources, according to a draft policy roadmap released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The regulator disclosed the plan in its Draft Spectrum Roadmap 2025–2030, which outlines strategies to support long-term growth in broadband access, mobile services, and digital infrastructure across the country.
Data usage hits record levels
Latest data from the NCC show that internet usage reached a record 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025, up from 1.235 million terabytes in October. The steady increase reflects the continued expansion of digital activity across Nigeria, driven by video streaming, social media, fintech services, remote work, and cloud-based applications.
The commission noted that the growth trend is placing increasing pressure on existing mobile networks, particularly in urban centres where data consumption is highest.
Spectrum shortage looms
According to the NCC, Nigeria’s current spectrum holdings will be insufficient to support projected growth in broadband demand over the medium to long term. The regulator attributed the pressure to several factors, including rising smartphone adoption, ongoing 4G and 5G deployment, and the proliferation of data-intensive services.
In the draft roadmap, the commission projects that national mobile data traffic will almost triple within five years, increasing from about 11.9 exabytes in 2025 to more than 31 exabytes by 2030.
The growth is expected to be driven by a sharp rise in average data usage per subscriber, which the NCC estimates will roughly double over the period, as well as an increase in active mobile subscriptions to nearly 220 million by the end of the decade.
Plan to scale up spectrum resources
To cope with the anticipated surge, the NCC said Nigeria would need to significantly scale up spectrum resources available for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT). This would involve identifying, refarming, and assigning additional frequency bands suitable for mobile broadband, while ensuring efficient and interference-free use of existing spectrum.
The commission said the roadmap would guide future spectrum auctions, licensing frameworks, and investment decisions in the telecommunications sector.
Business and investment implications
For the business and energy desk, the proposed expansion signals increased capital expenditure opportunities for mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, and technology vendors. Analysts say additional spectrum availability could improve network quality, reduce congestion, and support the expansion of 5G-enabled services across industries such as fintech, e-commerce, health, and education.
However, they also note that successful implementation will depend on regulatory clarity, pricing of spectrum licences, and operators’ ability to finance network upgrades in a challenging macroeconomic environment.
The NCC said the draft roadmap is part of its broader effort to align Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure with long-term economic growth and digital transformation goals, as the country positions itself for a data-driven future.
