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The number of internet users in Nigeria has increased to 141 million in May 2020, data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has shown.
The telecommunications regulator disclosed in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data Report that over 2.42 million subscribers were added in May 2020 as against the 138.73 million subscribers for April 2020.
The data shows that the total number of internet users increase from 138,733,733 in April 2020 to 141,158,355 in May 2020.
Of the total number of active internet users in Africa’s most populous nation, 99.82 percent were on mobile (GSM) as Fixed (Wireless/Wired) and VoIP accounted for 0.06 percent and 0.12 percent respectively.
Further analysis revealed during the period under review on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GMS), internet users stood at 140,761,851 as against 138, 342,770 recorded for April 2020.
While Fixed Wireless grew to 9,995 users from 9,847 users recorded in April 2020, the number of internet users on VoIP increased to 386,509 during the period under review from 381,116 in April, 2020.
The NCC statistics also showed that the number of internet users increased by 14 percent year-on-year in May 2020 as against the 123 million that was recorded in the comparable period of 2019.
Furthermore, broadband penetration has increased to 40.14% during the period under review with its number of subscriptions at 76,618,992.
This shows an increase of 0.56% as against 39.58% recorded as broadband penetration for the month of April 2020 with its subscriptions placed at 75,558,163.
Speaking on this, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami while inaugurating the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) in Abuja said all the efforts were meant to put Nigeria on the global digital economy map, supported by robust broadband infrastructure.
Pantami noted that under the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), Solid Infrastructure components which are the 3rd pillar will provide the bedrock for the realization of the country’s digital economy vision.
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“In the new National Broadband Plan, there are many targets. The principal of which is to cover 90 percent of the Nigerian population with broadband access and 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025.
“We also plan to achieve a broadband speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas by the end of the implementation of the new Broadband plan,” Pantami said.
While noting that the implementation of the new NBP had started fully and is resulting in the increase in broadband penetration currently at 40.14 percent, up from 35.10 percent in August 2019, the Minister said the ICT industry contributed 14.07 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020.
He noted that increased broadband penetration will help Nigeria to achieve increased GDP growth.
The Minister, however, explained that problems of Right of Way, protection for telecom infrastructure, and multiple taxations, which are critical to fast-track broadband infrastructure deployment and penetration are being addressed from all fronts.
He added that the efforts are already yielding positive results with the engagement of relevant stakeholders including state government and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
