The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has said the fifth generation (5G) networks coverage remains uneven, with 84 per cent of people in high-income countries having access to 5G, compared with only four per cent in low-income countries.
The global telecom body noted that this year, 5G networks are estimated to cover 55 per cent of the world’s population, reflecting strong momentum in advanced mobile technologies.
The ITU, in its Facts and Figures, For the first time, estimates the total number of 5G subscriptions, which now account for about one-third – or around 3 billion – of all mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide.
While the report showed that 4G and 3G technologies are available to the majority of the global population, these services are not best suited for keeping pace with advancing technologies.
5G was first launched in Nigeria by MTN Nigeria in September 2022, with a pilot launch earlier that month in Lagos. Airtel commercialized its 5G service in June 2023, and Mafab Communications followed suit in January 2023 first in Abuja and later Lagos. In June 2023, Airtel launched its commercial 5G service in the country.
Nigeria is however classified as a lower-middle-income country, not a low-income country. According to the World Bank’s 2025/2026 country income classification, Nigeria’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita falls between $1,136 and $4,495, which is the range for lower-middle-income economies. The country is ranked below some African countries such Libya and Gabon but is above the threshold for low-income classification, which is a GNI per capita of $1,135 or less.
According to the report however, the online population in the country and other parts of the world grew by more than 240 million people in 2025, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) stats released yesterday stated.
According to telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria had approximately 140 million internet subscribers as of August 2025, a slight increase from 138 million in July 2025.
In contrast, June posted a total of 141.1 million active subscriptions, representing a 0.3per cent decline from May 2025. The most recent figures show that mobile (GSM) internet subscriptions account for the vast majority of these figures. Mobile (GSM) constituted the vast majority of the total subscribers in both reports. Broadband penetration reached 48.8per cent in August 2025, short of the 70per cent target for December 2025 while in the area of data consumption, Nigerians consumed 1.044 million terabytes of data in June 2025.
ITU’s Facts and Figures 2025 showed that the 240million new estimates confirm continuing progress in expanding digital connectivity, while pointing to differences in quality that impact how users benefit from internet use.
Globally, an estimated 6 billion people – about three-quarters of the world’s population – are using the Internet in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. However, 2.2 billion people remain offline, down from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024.
Overall, the report’s findings underline the importance of digital infrastructure, affordable services and skills training to ensure that everyone can truly benefit from advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Commenting on the new findings, ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online. This report highlights how today’s digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity.”
Estimates in the report revealed deep contrasts in intensity of use as an indicator of the quality gap. A typical user in a high-income country now generates nearly eight times more mobile data than one in a low-income country.
Facts and Figures 2025 noted that affordability and digital skills remain essential to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity – reached when everyone can access the Internet with high-quality service, at an affordable cost, whenever and wherever needed.
Globally, the median price of a data-only mobile broadband basket decreased, but access remains unaffordable in around 60 per cent of low- and middle-income countries.
Data also suggest that most Internet users possess basic skills, while more advanced capabilities – such as online safety, problem-solving and digital content creation – are being developed more slowly.
ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau Director, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazavam, said: “Reliable data are the foundation of effective digital policies and of our shared vision to connect the world. “Achieving that vision will require sustained and well-targeted efforts – in infrastructure, in digital skills, and in data systems. By working together and directing resources where the needs are greatest, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone benefits fully and safely from the opportunities of the digital age.”
According to Facts and Figures 2025, digital development remains closely linked to economic development, gender, and location.
The report underscored the persistence of several digital divides: 94 per cent of people in high-income countries use the Internet, in contrast to only 23 per cent in low-income countries; 96 per cent of those offline live in low- and middle-income countries; 77 per cent of men are online compared to 71 per cent of women; 85 per cent in urban areas are online versus 58 per cent in rural areas; 82 per cent of 15–24-year-olds use the Internet, compared with 72 per cent of the rest of the population.
Facts and Figures 2025 provided global, regional and income group estimates for indicators related to Internet use, mobile network coverage, Internet subscriptions, Internet traffic, affordability, digital skills and mobile phone ownership.
