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Nigeria’s telecom sector is entering a crucial transition period as key operators get ready to phase out 3G services.
3G was once the revolutionary technology that expanded mobile broadband past 2G. However, it has limited spectral efficiency, capacity, and future potential, leading operators to phase it out.
Recent reports show that median download speeds in rural areas have almost doubled within a year, increasing from approximately 7.5 Mbps in January 2025 to around 15 Mbps by September 2025.
In previous planning documents, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has indicated the necessity to “start evaluating regulatory and industrial needs focused on phasing out older technologies like 2G and potentially 3G.”
The NCC is advocating for increased transparency in reporting network performance as it prepares a new five-year spectrum plan to enhance resource distribution.
Reports suggest that mobile network operators in Nigeria are accelerating the shutdown of their 3G services, citing declining usage, increased maintenance expenses, and the need to reallocate spectrum and resources to support faster 4G and upcoming 5G networks.
The decision to phase out 3G for LTE and ultimately 5G marks a transformation in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. For rural areas, achieving 15 Mbps LTE speeds marks significant strides in closing the connectivity divide.
Industry experts say that 3G systems may be decommissioned in phases by 2025.
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Transition as Part of a Global Trend
The shift is part of a larger global trend. In Africa, the proportion of connections dependent on 2G and 3 G has been consistently decreasing. This indicates that operators are redirecting their investments toward LTE and next-generation technologies.
Concurrently, users in rural areas are beginning to experience considerable improvements in mobile broadband availability.
Reports indicate that in certain underserved regions, download speeds have increased to as much as 15 Mbps. This offers a significant improvement over the limited capabilities of older 3G networks. The increase in speed is due to a more efficient allocation of underutilised spectrum. It is also due to network densification and improved backhaul capacity.
Rural users who were once limited by unreliable or slow 3G access are now experiencing more stable connectivity that enables basic video streaming, education, telemedicine, and small business operations.
