The Nigerian Communications Commission (has introduced a new spectrum roadmap to boost Nigeria’s broadband capacity in response to rising data consumption.

The Commission presented the draft Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030, alongside fresh guidelines for opening the lower 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands, at an event in Abuja.

The move is intended to attract investment and strengthen the country’s telecommunications infrastructure to meet accelerating data demand.

According to NCC, GSMA Intelligence projects that average mobile data usage per connection in Nigeria will rise from 5.8 gigabytes per month in 2025 to 12.0 gigabytes by 2030.

During the same period, active mobile subscriptions are expected to increase from 171 million to about 220 million.

As a result, total national mobile data traffic is forecast to grow from 11.9 exabytes in 2025 to 31.7 exabytes by 2030—equivalent to roughly 2,640 petabytes per month.

In practical terms, Nigeria’s mobile data traffic is projected to nearly triple within five years.

The commission said 4G networks will continue to handle the bulk of data traffic, while 5G will increasingly function as a high-capacity layer in urban centres and enterprise corridors, supporting applications such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and immersive media.

Speaking at the unveiling, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, said spectrum remains a vital national resource that underpins mobile connectivity, broadband services, satellite communications, emergency networks, financial platforms and smart technologies.

Represented by the Head of Spectrum Administration, Atiku Lawal, Maida said the draft roadmap provides a forward-looking framework aimed at boosting investor confidence, encouraging innovation and ensuring the delivery of quality communication services across the country.

He added that effective spectrum planning would help lower broadband deployment costs, extend networks to underserved areas, and unlock new opportunities for businesses that rely on digital connectivity, especially as demand from data-intensive applications continues to grow.

As part of the initiative, the NCC announced plans to open the lower 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands to boost capacity for high-speed and affordable connectivity.

The Commission said the decision will strengthen Wi-Fi services across homes, schools, businesses and public spaces, while easing constraints on innovation.