en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), pointed out at the FTTH High-Level Industry Forum organized by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos that the development of fixed fiber broadband has significantly lagged behind the demand growth driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services.
Nigeria currently has approximately 265,000 active FTTH subscribers, with a penetration rate below the African average of 2.5%, far behind the average of 47% in mature broadband markets. Maida stated that the low starting point underscores the need for faster and more sustainable expansion of fiber infrastructure, which offers the speed, resilience, and scalability required to support data-intensive applications and serves as a platform for future technological upgrades.
Improving broadband infrastructure will enhance business competitiveness, expand digital services, and attract investment. The NCC is conducting a Wholesale Fixed Broadband Market Assessment to analyze competition and develop measures that encourage investment, promote sharing, open access, and improve consumer affordability. The agency calls on state governments to remove barriers to fiber deployment, noting that right-of-way approvals are among the biggest challenges. Excessive fees, lengthy approval timelines, and multiple licensing requirements drive up costs and delay network deployment. Currently, 13 states have fully waived right-of-way fees, and 16 states have adopted the National Economic Council's recommended rate of 145 naira per linear meter. The commission will continue engaging with other states. The NCC has also launched the Ease of Doing Business Portal, providing information on right-of-way fees, approval processes, infrastructure deployment data, and related regulatory requirements across states.
The commission urges governments, real estate developers, and urban planners to integrate telecommunications infrastructure into new project planning. Maida cited examples where new developments should plan for telecommunications infrastructure, noting that early fiber planning can reduce costs. The NCC emphasizes mandatory enforcement of technical safety standards for all fiber deployment projects, warning that poor installation practices, substandard materials, and inadequate documentation increase network failures, service disruptions, and maintenance costs.
Industry stakeholders at the forum agreed that expanding fiber infrastructure is crucial to increasing broadband penetration, supporting emerging digital technologies, and solidifying Nigeria's position as Africa's leading digital economy.
