‘More Nigerians Access Mobile Broadband than Fixed Broadband’

Recent technology report has revealed that Nigerians use more of the mobile broadband services across devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets, than the fixed broadband services from wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology.

According to the report, out of the total number of people that use mobile broadband, more than 95 per cent access it on their smartphones. It further revealed that 56 per cent of mobile phone users are satisfied with data speed and voice connection quality, while over 50 per cent of those who switch between fixed and mobile broadband, do so due to changing locations or the availability of connections.

The findings of the new survey report conducted by Ericsson Consumer Lab, were contained in the April edition of its 2015 consumer insight summary report, tagged: ‘Internet Goes Mobile.’

The study analysed evolving consumer expectations and requirements for mobile broadband, fixed broadband and other changing services in Nigeria, and discovered that Nigerians are more at ease with mobile broadband connectivity than the fixed broadband connectivity.

The study highlights the underlying desires of telecoms consumers, as well as their perceptions of current telecoms operations and services.

The report made use of data compiled through a total of 1,653 one-on-one interviews with Nigerians between the ages of 15 to 59 years. The research sample represents 30 million people between social economic class in metropolitan areas, representing about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s urban population.

Analysing the recent report, Head of Region sub-Saharan Africa at Ericsson, Fredrik Jejdling, said the findings would enable service providers to begin to consider expanding their internet broadband capaci- ties towards mobile broadband, so as to meet up with the increase in demand for mobile broadband that is expected. He said more Nigerians are beginning to use the mobile broadband services more than ever before, to upload and download contents and information, through the social media, while on the move.

The term mobile broadband refers to high-speed wireless internet connections and services designed to be used from any locations. It is the marketing term for wireless internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone, Universal Serial Bus