Nigeria’s Broadband Penetration Falls Short of Target Despite Infrastructure Push

…Broadband Penetration Pegs at 41.56% in September

 

Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan, which set an ambitious target of 70% broadband penetration by 2025, appears to be facing challenges.

According to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for September 2024, broadband penetration in the country currently stands at 41.56%.

NCC Data Shows Shortfall

The NCC data, though showing a slight increase from 41.01% in August 2024, reveals a significant gap between the current reality and the National Broadband Plan’s target. As of March and July 2024, penetration was at 43.53% and 44.04%, respectively, showcasing a downward trend in recent months. In September 2024, the country recorded a total of 90,102,835 for broadband subscriptions, a significant dip from the 93,567,464 subscriptions recorded in the previous month, August 2024.

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Despite the drop in broadband subscriptions, NCC statistics reported that the number of mobile internet subscribers reached a new high of 132.4 million in September 2024. This represents a substantial increase from the 130.9 million recorded in August 2024, as reported by Business Remarks.

Experts Raise Concerns

Industry stakeholders have expressed concerns about Nigeria’s ability to achieve the 70% target by the December 2025 deadline. The downward trend in broadband penetration and challenges with plan implementation are cited as key reasons for this apprehension.

Infrastructure Investment Efforts

While the broadband penetration figures are below target, the government is making efforts to improve digital infrastructure. A key initiative is the 90,000-kilometer fiber optic project, which has received a significant boost from the World Bank. This project is expected to play a crucial role in expanding broadband access across the country.