…Nigerians consumed 973,445 terabytes of data in 2024
Between December 2023 and same time in 2024, Nigerians gulped 973,445 terabytes of data, making mobile network operators smile to the bank irrespective of the ballooning operating costs.
The lot was consumed by 139.2 million Nigerians on the internet as at the time under review. The surge showed how Nigerians have come to embrace digital technology and mobile communications. The increase in data usage was irrespective of the dwindling number of internet users due to inability to afford data, occasioned by economic downturn.
According to the data obtained from the website of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, as at December 2023, about 163.8 million users were on the internet, but that number declined to 139.2 million in just one year showing nearly 25 million users dropping off.
A reliable source at the NCC told Hi-tech that the number of internet users that dropped could be attributed to the enforcement of SIM-NIN linkage regulations and internal data corrections by the telecom operators. The impact extends beyond internet access, with active phone connections also falling sharply, from 224.7 million to 164.9 million, resulting in a substantial decrease in teledensity.
However, despite the drop the 36 percent data surge from 713,200 terabytes to 973,445 terabytes, shows that while fewer p As eople are online, they were consuming significantly more data, which likely drives increased engagement in data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming, and remote work.
Again, there are also the issues of 4G technology surpassing 2G for the first time, now accounting for 42.7 percent of internet users. 5G adoption, though still in its early stages at 2.3 percent, is also showing signs of growth. This indicates a growing preference for faster internet speeds among connected users.
Although the data usage surge may appear to eclipse the dangers of declining internet users, industry experts are worried that some of the country’s lofty digital initiatives will suffer stunted growth if internet users continue to drop off
They believe that the sharp decline in internet users poses a significant challenge to Nigeria’s ambition of achieving 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025.
The data also highlights the struggles of smaller telecom operators. 9mobile’s market share has plummeted to a mere 1.99%, a stark contrast to its 15.7% share in 2015.
Experts also argued that although the NCC’s planned expansion of broadband infrastructure is crucial for addressing the access gap and bringing more Nigerians online, the contrasting trends of declining user numbers and increasing data consumption should be checked. It presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses, policymakers, and telecom providers.
The government is also urged to have a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to the user decline, coupled with strategies to enhance the quality of digital experiences, if the country must succesfully navigate the evolving digital landscape.
