Nigeria’s broadband subscriptions on steady rise, NCC data shows

Nigeria’s broadband subscriptions have been on steady increase since October 2021, latest statistics obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed.

Broadband penetration recorded a quantum leap in the last seven months from November 2021 with a record of seven million new subscriptions, indicating a steady rise in the nation’s quest to achieve 70 per cent national coverage by 2025.

Internet user penetration in Nigeria saw a slight increase between the years 2017 and 2022, going from around 26 per cent to over 38 per cent. As of 2022, the estimated number of internet users in the country is more than 108 million.

Mobile broadband accounts for a dominant share (over 99%) of Nigeria’s broadband connections due to the ease and relatively low cost of acquiring mobile lines as well as the significant investment required for the development of fixed broadband infrastructure.

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According to the data, total broadband connections climbed by 1.5 per cent m/m and 10.9 per cent y/y to approximately 84.6 million in June ‘22, implying a penetration rate of c.44.3 per cent, up from c.43.7 per cent the previous month, and c.40 per cent as at June  2021.

Although appreciable progress has been made in enhancing broadband penetration, there remains significant ground to cover in terms of policy implementation targets with respect to coverage, cost, and speed of broadband connection.

The President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo said the increase in broadband penetration had been a result of conscientious implementation by the government of the National Digital Economy Policy for the overall benefit of the economy to achieve a digital Nigeria.

“The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), along with the harmonisation of Right of Way charges across the states and protection of critical national infrastructure across the country, had a significant impact on the broadband penetration,” he said.

Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who presented the broadband internet penetration figures in Lagos recently, said the steady growth in broadband penetration was positively impacting other sectors of the economy such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, transportation, commerce, governance, and other sectors.

The Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said the access gap in rural areas have continued to widen despite all promises made over the years by the federal government on rural telephony.

Adebayo said in Nigeria there are people who still have to move out of their compounds and environments to higher lands or hills to make calls, receive calls or send text messages due to bad telecom networks.