The number of 3G and 4G subscriptions in the country hit 63.1 million in February this year.
The latest subscribers report from the Nigerian Communications Commission has shown.
In addition, the report said Nigeria’ broadband penetration had equally increased to 33.08 per cent as of February 2019.
Broadband penetration is typically measured by the percentage of the total population with access to broadband networks out of each hundred.
According to NCC, the broadband penetration can be calculated by taking the total active broadband subscription figure of 63,136,978 and dividing it by the population figure of 190,886,311 (using the United Nations’ projection as of December 2017).
The country had set a five-year National Broadband Plan, which ran from 2013 to 2018, with the target of a minimum of 30 per cent broadband penetration from the five per cent it had in 2013.
The NCC had said based on the 190 million population of Nigeria and 169 million connected lines, those who had access to broadband at a speed of 1.5 megabytes per second covered over 30 per cent of the population as of December 2018.
In December 2018, NCC data indicated that the country had attained a broadband penetration of 31.48 per cent.
Meanwhile, the commission had set a new target of 70 per cent to be attained in the next five years.
The Executive Vice -Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta, has said that the commission is ready to drive the process of attaining 70 per cent broadband penetration in the next couple of years, in line with the Federal Government’s target.
Speaking at an investment summit of Kaduna State Government recently, Danbatta, expressed optimism about the commitment of the agency towards taking the broadband penetration to a new level.
“When I was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, broadband penetration was only 8.5 per cent. It has now risen to 33 per cent, an equivalent of 63 million Nigerians enjoying the services. I am particularly thrilled to see that the rising trend has not only been sustained, but the NCC is now ready to take it to the next level,” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria attained 30 per cent broadband target in 2018 through measures and strategies put in place by the NCC under the present leadership.
Danbatta also urged Fleek Network Limited, the licensed Infraco for the North- West to quickly mobilise to site with a view to deploying broadband infrastructure in the region.
He added, “At least, six infrastructure companies have been licensed by the NCC to drive the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the nation’s six geo-political zones, including Lagos State, which is a zone on its own due to the sheer size of its market.
“The licence for the north central region which is the only zone remaining is presently being processed,” he said.
The President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, Mr Olusola Teniola, said it was possible for the country to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration in another five years since the country had been able to exceed 30 per cent target despite the challenges.