In 2019, the the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) launched its new National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025), a project they hope will help boost the economy of Africa’s most populated nation. As a follow-up to this development, the NCC has just announced the investment of ₦263 billion ($732 million) over the next four years in the nation’s broadband infrastructure.
NCC’s chief executive officer, Umar Danbatta said the project is Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Nigerian government and six private infrastructure companies. About a quarter of the budget (65 billion naira) will be invested by the government, while the rest will be obtained from the private companies participating in developing the broadband project. Over 30,000 kilometres of fibre will be added to the already present 41,000 kilometres across the nation to ensure that the country is connected by 2024. Big deal!
There will be data everywhere in the country and it will be cheap – Danbatta
Though Nigeria’s current penetration rate is around 38%, the NCC is optimistic that the new broadband project will increase access to Nigeria’s over 200 million population by as much as 68% in 2024.
