With 140m Internet Subscribers, Nigeria’s Broadband Penetration Hits 48.8%, Less Than 70% Target

Emma Okonji

The latest report on internet subscribers’ data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed the total number of internet subscribers in Nigeria, reached 140 million as at August 2025, up from 138 million recorded in July 2025.

According to the report, which THISDAY obtained from the official website of NCC, broadband penetration also reached 48.8 per cent as at August 2025, up from 48 per cent recorded in July 2025, a development that is still far from Nigeria’s broadband target of 70 per cent by December 2025.

The report showed that mobile internet subscribers (Mobile GSM), continued to lead the number of internet subscribers in Nigeria, followed by subscribers that access the internet through wired/wireless services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and subscribers that access the internet through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The least internet subscribers are those that access the internet via the fixed wired services.

Mobile internet subscribers, the report said, reached 139 million as at August 2025, while the ISP wired/wireless internet subscribers reached 289,369, and VoIP internet subscribers reached 220,054, with the fixed wired internet subscribers coming behind them with only 29,490 within the same period.

“As at July 2025, the total number of mobile internet subscribers was 138 million; ISP wired/wireless subscriber number was 289,369; VoIP internet subscriber number was 210,456; and fixed wired subscriber number was 29,489.  

“As at June 2025, the total number of mobile internet subscribers was 140 million; ISP wired/wireless subscriber number was 289,369; VoIP internet subscriber number was 212,470; and fixed wired subscriber number was 26,794.       

“As at May 2025, the total number of mobile internet subscribers was 141 million; ISP wired/wireless subscriber number was 289,369; VoIP internet subscriber number was 212,151; and fixed wired subscriber number was 14,599.       

“As at April 2025, the total number of mobile internet subscribers was 141 million; ISP wired/wireless subscriber number was 285,702; VoIP internet subscriber number was 210,959; and fixed wired subscriber number was 17,175. As at March 2025, the total number of mobile internet subscribers was 141 million; ISP wired/wireless subscriber number was 285,702; VoIP internet subscriber number was 208,482; and fixed wired subscriber number was 17,522,” the report said. 

According to the report, broadband penetration reached 47.73 per cent, with 103,487,089 broadband subscriptions as at March 2025.

The figures however increased in April 2025 to 48.15 per cent broadband penetration, with 104,381,796 broadband subscriptions. In May 2025, the figures further increased to 48.81 per cent broadband penetration with 105,818,293 broadband subscriptions. In June 2025, the figures dropped slightly to 48.78 per cent broadband penetration, with 105,749,786 broadband subscriptions. In July 2025, the figures further dropped to 48.01 per cent broadband penetration, with 104,068105 broadband subscriptions.

The numbers however picked up again in August 2025, to reach 48.81 per cent broadband penetration, with 105,158,577 broadband subscriptions.

Even though Nigeria is still far from achieving its set target of 70 per cent broadband penetration by December 2025, telecoms analysts are optimistic that Nigeria will attain the set target by December 2025, given the current growth statistics in internet subscriptions and broadband penetration level.