Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria accounted for an estimated 140 million people in the mobile internet usage gap in 2025, according to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2026 report.
The figure represents Nigerians who lived within the footprint of mobile broadband networks but did not use mobile internet services, highlighting the gap between network availability and actual internet adoption.
The GSMA defines the mobile internet usage gap as people who live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network but do not use mobile internet services.
“The biggest challenge is a lack of mobile internet adoption among people living in areas already covered by mobile broadband,” the GSMA said.
Globally, about 3.1 billion people lived within mobile broadband coverage but did not use mobile internet services in 2025.
Nigeria’s estimated usage gap of 140 million was similar to Pakistan’s 140 million, while India and China recorded larger gaps of 710 million and 200 million respectively.
The GSMA’s 2025 Consumer Survey also showed a substantial difference in mobile internet adoption between urban and rural Nigerians.
Among adults surveyed, 66% of urban respondents used mobile internet, compared with 33% of rural respondents.
The disparity was also reflected in device ownership. While 79% of urban respondents owned an internet-enabled handset, the proportion fell to 51% among rural respondents.
Awareness of mobile internet remained relatively high in both groups, at 97% among urban respondents and 86% among rural respondents.
For existing mobile internet users, the GSMA identified safety and security concerns, affordability and the quality of connectivity as barriers to greater use.
The latest figures come amid a persistent gap between mobile broadband coverage and actual internet use in Nigeria.
The GSMA had estimated that about 120 million Nigerians were not using mobile internet at the end of 2023 despite living within the footprint of mobile broadband networks.
In February 2025, the association estimated that 60% of Nigerians with access to 4G coverage were not using mobile internet. Of that group, 18% had a phone but were not using mobile internet, while 42% did not have a device.
The latest estimate therefore points to an increase in Nigeria’s mobile internet usage gap from about 120 million people in 2023 to 140 million in 2025.
At the same time, mobile data consumption among Nigerians who are already connected continues to rise.
The Nigerian Communications Commission reported record data consumption of 1.5 million terabytes in May, the highest monthly consumption recorded by the regulator.
The figure came as the share of internet users on 4G networks rose to 54.3%.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 