Mobile internet usage soars in Nigeria

INTERNET access through mobile phones has increased considerably in Nigeria, a development that confirms the country’s status as a technological leader on the continent.

According to Nielsen Online senior analyst, Kent Ferguson, while internet access via mobile phones had leaped by 25 percent, this means reduced computer usage in browsing the internet.

Ferguson said 7.3 million Nigerians accessed the internet using mobile phones during the second and third quarters of this year, while those using PCs drastically slumped to three percent in the same period.

“This highlights the advantage of mobile phones. People often need instant access to weather, or sport news and mobile phones can obviously satisfy that need,” said Ferguson.

He said the majority of those accessing the internet using mobile phones were the young people.

Ferguson pointed out that other popular sites being visited by mobile phone users included the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s news, weather and SKY sports.

The expert noted that Google was the most popular site young people aged between 15-24 and several millions of adults in Nigeria, visited through both mobile phones and PCs.

But it is Google’s Facebook chatting utility which has captured majority browsers in Nigeria, as they keep glued to the PCs or phone screens.