Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator has renewed its push for faster deployment of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure, stressing that achieving the country’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy will require stronger digital connectivity and sustained investment in broadband networks.
Speaking during the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) High-Level Industry Forum on FTTH in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, said Nigeria’s fixed fibre broadband sector remains significantly underdeveloped despite rising demand for high-speed internet services driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, streaming platforms and other digital businesses.
Maida disclosed that Nigeria currently has about 265,000 active FTTH subscriptions. He noted that the figure represents a penetration level that is still below Africa’s average of 2.5 percent and significantly behind the 47 percent average recorded in more advanced broadband markets.
“This low base should not discourage us. It should focus us. It shows the scale of the opportunity before Nigeria and reinforces the need to create the right conditions for fibre infrastructure to expand more rapidly, more sustainably and more widely across the country,” he said.
According to him, fibre infrastructure provides the speed, resilience and scalability needed to support increasingly data-intensive applications while offering a future-proof platform capable of supporting successive technology upgrades. He added that stronger broadband infrastructure would enhance business competitiveness, expand access to digital services, improve productivity and attract greater investment into Nigeria’s digital economy.
As part of efforts to stimulate investment, the NCC revealed that it is carrying out a Wholesale Fixed Broadband Market Assessment. The exercise is intended to evaluate competition within the wholesale broadband market while identifying measures to encourage infrastructure investment, promote infrastructure sharing, strengthen open access models and improve affordability for consumers.
NCC Urges States to Cut RoW Barriers
The Commission also renewed its appeal to state governments to eliminate obstacles slowing fibre deployment, describing Right of Way (RoW) approvals as one of the major challenges affecting broadband expansion across the country.
Maida said excessive Right of Way charges, prolonged approval timelines and multiple permitting requirements continue to raise deployment costs and delay network rollout nationwide.
He further disclosed that 13 states have completely waived Right of Way charges, while 16 others have adopted the National Economic Council’s recommended rate of ₦145 per linear metre. He added that the Commission will continue engaging the remaining states to remove unnecessary barriers that discourage broadband investment.
To improve transparency for investors and network operators, the NCC has launched an Ease of Doing Business Portal that provides state-by-state information on Right of Way charges, approval procedures, infrastructure deployment data and other relevant regulatory requirements.
The Commission also urged governments, property developers and urban planners to incorporate telecommunications infrastructure into the design and planning of new residential and commercial developments instead of treating connectivity as an afterthought.
“Just as new developments make provision for electricity, water and drainage, they should also make provision for telecommunications infrastructure,” Maida said, noting that early fibre planning reduces deployment costs and speeds up service activation.
The NCC equally emphasised the importance of enforcing technical and safety standards across fibre deployment projects. It warned that poor installation practices, the use of substandard materials and inadequate documentation contribute to network failures, service disruptions and higher maintenance costs.
“Our priority is not simply that fibre is deployed quickly, but that it is built to last and capable of supporting Nigeria’s digital ambitions for decades to come,” Maida said.
Stakeholders at the industry forum also agreed that expanding fibre infrastructure will be essential to improving broadband penetration, supporting emerging digital technologies and strengthening Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading digital economies.
Stay informed with the latest news, insights and developments shaping Nigeria and beyond. Visit LouisaOlaniyi.com.ng for more breaking stories and daily updates.
