NCC, Investors Back 90,000km Fibre Project To Improve Internet Access Nationwide

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a series of measures aimed at attracting more investment into Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and improving broadband connectivity across the country.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum 2026 held in Abuja with the theme, _”Unlocking Infrastructure Investment through Data, Transparency and Partnerships.”_

The forum brought together government officials, development partners, investors, telecom operators, financial institutions, infrastructure providers and technology companies to discuss practical ways of strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.

Participants agreed that greater collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to expand digital infrastructure and provide reliable internet services to more Nigerians.

The communiqué revealed that Nigeria’s demand for data continues to rise rapidly, with about 1.6 million terabytes consumed in July 2026, representing almost a 47 per cent increase over the previous year.

It added that mobile subscriptions are projected to increase from about 195 million to 350 million over the next 10 to 15 years as demand for digital services continues to grow.

According to the participants, the telecommunications sector remains one of the country’s strongest economic drivers, contributing 9.72 per cent to Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2026.

They observed that while mobile broadband now reaches about 90 per cent of the population, smartphone ownership remains low at about 27 per cent, while broadband penetration stands at 57.4 per cent, below the government’s 70 per cent target.

The forum identified unreliable electricity, expensive devices, limited digital skills, high deployment costs and inadequate long-term financing as major obstacles to expanding connectivity across the country.

To tackle the challenges, participants urged the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of the 90,000-kilometre Project BRIDGE national fibre backbone, improve power supply for telecommunications infrastructure and maintain stable policies that encourage investment.

They also called on the NCC to sustain regulatory reforms, publish the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index, promote open-access infrastructure and complete regulations for direct-to-device communication services.

State governments were encouraged to reduce Right of Way charges, shorten approval timelines for fibre projects and create an investment-friendly environment, while operators were urged to embrace shared infrastructure and support affordable locally manufactured devices.

The forum further recommended increased long-term financing from investors and development finance institutions to support broadband expansion, especially in underserved communities, noting that stronger digital infrastructure would improve productivity, create jobs and accelerate Nigeria’s economic transformation.