Uncovering the hidden truth behind missing data in Nigeria
In recent months, Nigerian internet users have been grappling with faster and higher-than-expected data consumption. This surge can primarily be attributed to a shift in usage patterns, driven by a 50% price hike on data and call services that took effect in January 2025.
As a result, many Nigerians have been forced to adapt their internet habits. They are opting for more flexible, often smaller internet bundles (like weekly rather than monthly plans), abandoning secondary SIMs, and using data more intensively when they do connect. This intensified usage, despite a drop in the number of active internet subscriptions, has led to a record high of 1.04 million terabytes of data consumption in May 2025, surpassing previous peaks.
However, beneath this high data consumption lies a problem of inefficient data delivery, caused by overloaded and underpowered telecommunications infrastructure. This inefficiency drives higher consumption as users struggle to get satisfactory service.
The internet service providers in Nigeria operate under distinct models. Some offer fixed fibre connections with high speed but limited coverage, while others provide more portable, flexible LTE-based services with data caps and throttling that can degrade user experience and potentially cause wasteful overuse.
To improve internet service efficiency in Nigeria, several measures can be taken. These include:
- Upgrade and expand infrastructure: Investing in stronger, more modern network infrastructure, including wider deployment of fibre optic networks and improved LTE/5G base stations, can reduce congestion and improve data transmission efficiency.
- Improve regulatory oversight and fair pricing: Revisiting pricing models to make data more affordable and transparent can reduce the need for users to juggle multiple SIMs or restrictive plans, leading to more efficient usage.
- Promote competition and innovation among ISPs: Encouraging competition between fixed broadband providers and mobile ISPs can lead to better service quality, speed, and coverage, reducing inefficient data use caused by poor network performance.
- Encourage digital literacy and efficient usage habits: Awareness campaigns on how to optimize data use—such as using data-saving modes on apps, managing background app refresh, and connecting to WiFi when possible—can help users get more value from their data.
- Expand affordable broadband access: Bridging the internet access gap (currently, only about 29% of Nigerians use the internet regularly) will promote more consistent and efficient online behavior and reduce reliance on less efficient mobile data options.
In conclusion, the faster data consumption despite fewer users is driven by higher costs and changes in usage patterns amid strained infrastructure. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts in infrastructure investment, pricing regulation, service competition, user education, and expanded access.
- In the Nigerian technology industry, investment in stronger, modern network infrastructure, such as wider deployment of fiber optic networks and enhanced LTE/5G base stations, could help decrease congestion and improve data transmission efficiency.
- To achieve more affordable and transparent data pricing in the finance sector, it may be necessary to revisit current pricing models, which could in turn reduce the need for users to manage multiple SIMs or adhere to restrictive plans, leading to more efficient data usage.
- Encouraging competition and innovation among internet service providers (ISPs) in the data-and-cloud-computing sector could lead to better service quality, speed, and coverage, ultimately reducing inefficient data use due to subpar network performance.
