High speed internet subscribers rise 118% in 5 years
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Broadband penetration through high speed internet subscription rose 118.24 per cent from 38.19 million in May 2017 to 83.37 million in May 2022, according to latest data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The number of mobile internet subscribers grew 63.58 per cent from 91.57 million to 149.78 million in the five years.
The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 says broadband – which means high speed penetration – is measured by the number of broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
“Broadband supports the development of the digital economy and a focus on growing the National Digital Economy will also improve and diversify the nation’s traditional economy,” Communications and Digital Economy Minister Isa Pantami explain in the NNBP.
“This new broadband plan is designed to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria, a minimum of 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90 per cent of the population by 2025 at a price not more than N390 per 1GB of data (2% of median income or 1% of minimum wage).”
The NNBP envisages broadband penetration of 50 per cent by 2023 and 70 per cent by 2025.
However, 31.6 million Nigerians live in areas without telecommunication coverage, according to the NNBP; and only 473 out of the 774 councils nationwide have internet access, according to the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025.
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World Bank flags Nigeria’s internet hurdles
The World Bank recently explained that a 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration could lead to a minimum of 2.46 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria.
It said Nigeria’s digital economy plan is hampered by an underdeveloped fixed broadband infrastructure.
“Nigeria has the potential to accelerate its digital transformation by leveraging its relatively strong mobile broadband infrastructure, expanding e-commerce markets, and growing digital financial services,” the World Bank stressed, per The PUNCH.
“However, Nigeria continues to face significant challenges which have hindered the country’s ability to reap the full benefits of the digital economy.
“One leading barrier is Nigeria’s underdeveloped fixed broadband infrastructure, which is attributable to high federal and state taxes and an insufficient wholesale regulatory regime.
“This weak infrastructure base creates a ripple effect across the economy, contributing to low levels of financial inclusion, and persistent geographic and gender gaps in access to and use of digital technologies.”