Nigeria has asked a new team to raise ₦800 billion in financing needed to boost broadband penetration to 70% by 2025.
As of September, the broadband subscriptions in Nigeria were 86,062,025, representing 45.09% coverage of the country for high-speed internet service, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data.
Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC says the telecoms regulator inaugurated the industry-wide committee to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure under a project named, National Communications Backbone (NCB).
The Committee will collaborate with NCC to organise an NCB financing workshop and propose the N800 billion deal for financing and adoption by major financial institutions, MNOs and InfraCos, according to the NCC chief.
NCC says the Committee is expected to drive the targets set by the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) including the deployment of 120,000 kilometres of fibre across the country; deepening of broadband penetration to 70% by 2025 and connection of 60% of Communication towers with fibre, among other targets as stipulated in its approved Terms of Reference (ToR).
The new team called the National Broadband Infrastructure Joint Committee (NBIJC) is chaired by Dr. Augustine Nwaulune, NCC’s Director of Digital Economy with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), and Tower Companies (TowerCos) as members. It will be responsible for supporting the drive towards the realisation of the NCB targets as outlined in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025.
NCC says the Committee is expected to drive the targets set by the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) including the deployment of 120,000 kilometres of fibre across the country; deepening of broadband penetration to 70% by 2025 and connection of 60% of Communication towers with fibre, among other targets as stipulated in its approved Terms of Reference (ToR).
“I appreciate your willingness and readiness to make a considerable investment of time and talent to participate in this Committee. We appreciate that you will provide an invaluable perspective as we seek to address gaps impeding the actualisation of the NCB and NNBP initiatives,” the EVC, represented by Josephine Amuwa, NCC Director of Legal and Regulatory Services says.
The formation of the team, the EVC says, was informed by the need to inject a broad-based industry approach to address challenges impeding the actualisation of broadband targets.
“The depth and scope of experiences represented by the broad spectrum of this Committee’s membership will, no doubt, provide the Commission with much-needed insight and drive to overcome the challenges facing broadband infrastructure deployment in the country, and even exceed the current set targets.”
Following its inauguration, the Committee held its maiden meeting that discussed the frequency of meetings and other critical issues considered relevant to deliver on its ToR.
The Committee’s six-point ToR include: enhancing collaboration between MNOs and InfraCos towards achieving target of the NCB of the NNBP 2020-2025; and to design an NCB network architecture and harmonised comprehensive plan that will create a more viable business case that will attract investors, establish synergy between the MNOs and the InfraCos, and facilitate infrastructure deployment.
The Committee is mandated to initiate engagements with identified sources of funding including Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among others.
