Internet usage in Nigeria has surged significantly over the past three years, with total traffic rising by about 168 per cent between January 2023 and January 2026, according to an analysis of data from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Data from the telecom regulator shows that internet traffic climbed to 1,385,536.04 terabytes in January 2026, up from 517,670.15 terabytes recorded in January 2023.

In January 2024, internet usage rose to 721,522 TB, representing a 39.4 per cent increase over 2023 levels.

The upward trend continued in January 2025, with usage climbing to 1,000,930.60 TB, marking a 38.7 per cent year-on-year growth.

By January 2026, total consumption had increased further to 1,385,536.04 TB, reflecting a 38.4 per cent rise from the previous year.

Overall, Nigeria recorded an additional 867,865.89 TB of internet traffic between 2023 and 2026, translating to a cumulative growth of about 168 per cent over the three-year period.

The nearly consistent 38–39 per cent annual growth highlights Nigeria’s rapidly growing demand for digital services, with more people turning to online platforms for communication, entertainment, payments, and business activities.

Nigeria’s broadband penetration hit 53.07 per cent, indicating that just over half of the population now has access to high-speed internet.

According to NCC data, broadband subscriptions rose to 115.04 million in January, up from 112.67 million (51.97 per cent) in December. This represents a net gain of roughly 2.37 million users in a single month, reflecting the continued expansion of high-speed internet access across the country.

The surge in internet traffic is also tied to substantial investments by telecom operators in network infrastructure and capacity expansion. The NCC reported that in 2025, operators invested over $1 billion, resulting in the rollout of more than 2,850 new telecom sites across the country.

The regulator noted that the recent improvements in network performance and capacity were largely fueled by these investments.

Commenting, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said, “In 2025, over $1bn in industry investment resulted in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and capacity nationwide.

“We have secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure investments continuing in earnest.”

Telecom operators are set to increase investments, planning to spend over N1.4 trillion this year to expand network coverage, enhance service quality, and support the gradual rollout of 5G services nationwide.