By Juliet Umeh
Nigeria has been ranked among the countries with the most affordable mobile data in Africa.
According to a new survey by global broadband pricing firm, Cable.co.uk,
the ranking reflects the impact of competitive pricing and the country’s expanding telecommunications infrastructure,
The report, which compares the average cost of 1GB of mobile data across African markets, shows that Nigerians pay an average of $0.39 per gigabyte, placing the country among the lowest-priced data markets on the continent.
Nigeria ranks just behind Malawi, which recorded the lowest average price at $0.38, while Ghana follows closely at $0.40.
The findings position Nigeria in sharp contrast to several African countries grappling with high data costs.
Zimbabwe tops the list as Africa’s most expensive mobile data market, with consumers paying up to $43.75 per gigabyte, followed by South Sudan at $23.70 and the Central African Republic at $10.90.
Other countries with relatively low data prices include Somalia ($0.50), the Democratic Republic of Congo ($0.52), and Rwanda ($0.55). However, across much of the continent, prices remain significantly higher, with South Africa recording an average cost of $1.81, while Benin ($2.37), Senegal ($1.63), and Cameroon ($1.63) sit above the African average.
Analysts attribute Nigeria’s relatively low data costs to strong market competition, a large subscriber base, and sustained investments in broadband infrastructure, including fibre rollout and access to multiple undersea cable systems.
These factors, they say, have helped drive down retail data prices and improve internet accessibility for millions of users.
By contrast, countries with limited infrastructure, fewer telecom operators, currency instability, and weak regulatory environments tend to experience higher data costs, the report noted.
The survey underscores Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa’s digital economy, even as challenges around network quality, last-mile connectivity, and affordability for low-income users persist.
Stakeholders say sustained investment and supportive regulation will be critical to ensuring that low data prices translate into meaningful digital inclusion and economic growth.
