Why 5G remains out of reach for most Nigerians

•High cost of devices, coverage remains uneven  •As smartphone market contracts 11% amid rising device prices  •Africa’s budget smartphone shipments plunge 34% amid rising costs  
By Juliet Umeh
Nigeria’s mobile market has shifted significantly towards newer network technologies over the past three years, but 5G remains out of reach for most consumers. High smartphone prices, uneven network coverage and rising infrastructure costs continue to limit adoption, despite growing demand for mobile data.
In May 2023, 2G accounted for 58.36 percent of reported mobile connections, while 4G represented 25.06 percent and 5G just 0.12 percent. By August 2026, 4G had become the leading technolog...