The GSMA said low-band spectrum would drive 5G adoption and close the gap between urban and rural areas in delivering meaningful connectivity.

Without enough low-band spectrum, the digital divide could widen and people in rural areas won't have easy access 5G.

According to the association, the superior spread of low-band spectrum ensures that they are suitable for providing coverage in rural and remote areas, which is important in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.

"Without sufficient low-band spectrum, rural residents may not be able to enjoy the latest digital technologies," the report said.

"It is better able to penetrate buildings and serve built-up areas, providing 'deep' indoor coverage as well as capacity in urban areas, including where people live and work. Depending on location and type of occupancy, indoor traffic can account for 30% to 70% of total mobile traffic."

It notes that, therefore, the low frequency band tends to take up a greater proportion of traffic than it can accommodate.

"The allocation of sufficient low-band spectrum is critical to address the long-term demand for 5G in both urban and rural areas," the association added.

According to the GSMA, the countries where consumers are more likely to get a 5G signal are also the countries where they are more likely to use low-band connections.

U.S. consumers with 5G-capable devices are more likely to spend the majority of their time on 5G networks because most carriers have access to low-band spectrum, the report said.

By the end of 2022, 252 commercial 5G networks have been launched in 86 countries around the world.

Nigeria's 5G rolls out on c-band, a mid-band spectrum.

As with other networks, spectrum will determine 5G's speed and coverage.

According to various reports, while low-band spectrum offers the greatest coverage, it's also slower and only marginally better than 4G.

Low frequency bands are used commercially to provide nationwide coverage and privately to help businesses communicate with rural workplaces.

The mid-band also allows for more speed over long distances.

The GSMA added that low-band 5G could add $3 billion in economic value to sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

"Low-band 5G applications will be primarily used by and benefit from the agriculture, mining and retail industries, reflecting the level of economic activity driven by these industries," it said.

"Wide area coverage enabled by low frequency bands is particularly important to drive the digital transformation of the agricultural sector, and IoT applications are suitable for smart farming and farming."