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5G Penetration Drags as 4G, 2G Lead in Market Share across Networks
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Published 10/28/2026 6:23:00 PM
5G Penetration Drags as 4G, 2G Lead in Market Share across Networks – THISDAYLIVE
Emma Okonji
The percentage of subscribers utilising telecommunications services per various mobile phone generations currently being deployed in Nigeria, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, has continued to widen with 4G and 2G leading in terms of percentage share and market penetration, despite the hype that accompanied 5G rollout in 2022.
According to the latest statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), while 4G tops the chart with 54.77 percentage market share, 2G is second on the chart with 36.05 percentage market share as at August 2026.
NCC data placed 5G in third position on the chart, with a percentage market share of 4.92, followed by 3G as fourth position on the chart with a percentage market share of 4.27 as at August 2026.
During the rollout of 5G services in September 2022 by MTN and in June 2023 by Airtel, the operators raised the hopes of telecoms subscribers, with lots of promises that the advanced 5G technology would extend the reach and capacity of operator’s data network in Nigeria and enable much faster speeds and lower latency, giving customers near-instant access to the things they care about and downloads that take seconds, instead of minutes.
Both MTN and Airtel also promised that within one year of rollout, the penetration of 5G technology must have spread to all parts of the country, giving subscribers better experience in terms of data usage, download speed and voice clarity.
But four years down the line, since the first rollout of 5G in 2022, its market penetration level has continued to drag for obvious reasons, which include the inability of MTN and Airtel to rollout the 5G technology as fast as they intended, citing high cost of 5G equipment that is priced in dollar denomination, including the limited number of 5G enabled devices available to Nigerians to connect to the 5G network.
From the NCC’s statistics, 5G penetration level has remained abysmally low from inception, as 2G and 4G penetration levels continue to spread faster, an indication that more subscribers still utilise the 2G and 4G technologies, despite the fact that they are older forms of technologies that were launched several years before the launch of the advanced 5G technology in Nigeria.
But even at that, the world has advanced to 6G technology that has been described as the next game changer in the global technology space.
According to NCC data, as at January 2026, 4G penetration was 53.41 per cent, followed by 2G with 36.97 per cent and 3G penetration was 5.67 per cent, while 5G penetration was 3.94 per cent.
In February 2026, 4G still topped the chart with 53.59 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.87 per cent penetration level, and 3G had 5.49 per cent penetration level, while 5G had 4.06 per cent penetration level.
In March 2026, 4G also maintained lead position with 53.76 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.74 per cent penetration level, and 3G had 5.30 per cent penetration level, while 5G had 4.20 per cent penetration level.
In April 2026, 4G, again topped the chart with 54.41 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 35.93 per cent penetration level, and 3G had 5.32 per cent penetration level, while 5G had 4.34 per cent penetration level.
In May 2026, 4G also maintained the lead position with 54.30 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.12 per cent penetration level, and 3G had 5.10 per cent penetration level, while 5G had 4.49 per cent penetration level.
In June 2026, 4G also topped the chart with 54.31 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.22 per cent penetration level, and 3G had 4.86 per cent penetration level, while 5G had 4.61 per cent penetration level.
In July 2026, 4G also maintained the lead position with 54.31 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.54 per cent penetration level, and 5G had 4.74 per cent penetration level, while 3G had 4.42 per cent penetration level.
In August 2026, 4G continued with the lead position of 54.77 per cent penetration level, followed by 2G with 36.05 per cent penetration level, and 5G had 4.92 per cent penetration level, while 3G had 4.27 per cent penetration level.
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Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
