Nigeria: public agency NASRDA seeks partner to bring broadband to rural areas
July 25th 2021
By 2025, the federal government of Nigeria has set a target of increasing the broadband penetration rate to 90%. Beyond the investments required of telecom operators, public agencies are also called upon. The targeted economic diversification depends on it.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria is looking for a private partner with which to continue its research in the field of satellite telecommunications, to provide cost-effective broadband solutions in rural areas of the country. . On Thursday July 22, the federal government body invited companies interested in the project to come forward until August 16.
According to NASRDA, companies with a high chance of being prequalified will, among other things, need to be original equipment manufacturers of high-speed geo-satellite communications ground equipment systems, have a proven financial capacity, including a turnover of at least 5 billion naira (12.1 million USD) per year and a minimum net worth of at least 2 billion naira or its equivalent as a capital contribution clean.
The NASRDA project to develop satellite broadband connectivity in rural areas of Nigeria is part of the government’s efforts last year to increase the penetration rate of quality broadband to 90%. by 2025, at rates not exceeding 390 naira ($ 0.95) per gigabit. Once completed, the project will also help to significantly increase the penetration of fixed broadband which is only around 0.2%.
Through the development of connectivity in rural areas, the government of Nigeria, in its post-Covid 2021 economic recovery plan, wants to boost sectors such as education, training and young entrepreneurship for the creation of a million jobs. By 2025, mobile and fixed broadband should also contribute to the diversification of the national non-oil economy and accelerate the digital economy.
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