Nigeria: Regulator to Award Contracts to Companies to Accelerate Broadband Penetration
November 23rd 2022
Despite high mobile and internet penetration, broadband usage remains relatively low in Nigeria. The government, which is aiming for 70% broadband penetration by 2025, is multiplying initiatives to achieve this ambition just two years from the deadline.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that on Thursday, November 24 it will award contracts to companies for the provision of broadband telecom infrastructure to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as business establishments. higher education in Nigeria. This initiative should in particular make it possible to accelerate the penetration of broadband in the country.
According to the NCC, some reputable technology companies have already been selected to implement the project through a “ transparent bidding process ”. The contracts must be executed in the six geopolitical zones of the country within six months from the date of award, we learned.
The awarding of these contracts follows the approval of the program by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) earlier this year. The initiative is part of the actions undertaken by the Nigerian government to accelerate the use of broadband in Nigeria in a context marked by the acceleration of digital transformation. The Nigerian government has set a target to connect 70% of the population to broadband by 2025. However, the latest statistics from the NCC show only 45% broadband penetration.
“ The provision of broadband infrastructure for MSMEs in Nigeria and for tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country will provide the impetus needed to achieve the key objectives set out in the NDEPS 2020-2030 [Policy and National Digital Economy Strategy 2020-2030, Editor’s note],” the NCC said in a statement.
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