Nigeria to Record 93,021km Broadband Link as Fibre Optic Cables Deployment Increases to 54,725km

As part of an effort to boost Nigerian economy through the deployment of ubiquitous broadband infrastructure and high speed internet connectivity, fibre optic cables roll out will expand to about 93,021km in coming years.

This was disclosed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at a recent briefing with the new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Engr. Festus Yusuf Daudu in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking on this, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said presently, Fibre Optic Transmission cables expanded from 47,000km to 54,725km in the last five years, resulting in improved broadband/telecoms service delivery to Nigerians.

Speaking further, Danbatta however added that the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence ful operations.

This in coming years, according to the EVC will amount to 93,021 kilometers of fibre optic cables that will be spread across the 774 local governments in the country.

Furthermore, he noted that the third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) base transceiver stations (BTS) deployment in Nigeria has increased from 30,000 to 53,460.

“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers,” he said.

Explaining further on the functions and regulatory activities of the Commission, Danbatta said the effective regulatory regime emplaced by the leadership of the Commission has resulted in increased deployment of infrastructure by telecoms operators, which in turn, helped to improve broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecoms industry.

In the comprehensive briefing, the EVC spoke on NCC’s enabling laws, mandates of NCC, structure of NCC, implementation approach of its mandates and methodology, key focus and targets, scorecards, the new soon-to-be-unveiled Strategic Management Vision (SVP), NCC’s contributions to the economy, various regulatory frameworks aimed at improving service delivery, challenges confronting the sector and proposed solutions, among others.

ALSO READ: 3G, 4G Telecom BTS in Nigeria Hits 53,460 – Danbatta 

According to the EVC, as at November, 2020, active telephony subscribers stood at 208 million with teledensity standing at 108.92 per cent while active Internet subscriptions were 154.9 million and a broadband penetration of 45.07 per cent, among others.

In recognition of the tremendous economic growth opportunities afforded by the deployment of broadband and its associated technologies, Danbatta said the Commission has positioned itself in government’s drive for a digital Nigeria, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025), the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 – 2030) and the Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) of the Commission.

In his reaction, the Perm Sec commended the leadership of the Commission, acknowledging the upward growth attributed to the effective regulatory regime, the central role NCC is playing in the digital transformation of the Nigerian economy as well as the impressive contribution of the sector to the country’s Gross Domestic (GDP).

He also promised to support the Commission in whatever ways possible towards achieving its regulatory mandates.