Nigeria’s ambitious 2025 broadband targets are at risk unless the country deploys satellite connectivity due to the prohibitive costs of deploying fiber optic infrastructure in remote and underserved areas. said the expert.
Africa’s most populous country aims for 70% broadband penetration by 2025, as outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025. This plan targets 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas. However, as of September 2024, broadband penetration is only 41.56%, raising concerns about whether the target will be achieved.
Avanti Communications regional director Reuben Oshoma said in an email to Punch on Tuesday that Nigeria needs to consider investing in digital infrastructure, especially satellite technology.
Oshoma said, “Satellite connectivity, or access to the Internet via satellite technology, is playing an increasingly important role in this uptake, especially in areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is lacking or in place. This is particularly true when connecting to remote, underserved areas where the cost may be too high.
Nigeria is actively pursuing satellite projects, with plans to launch four new satellites recently approved by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen the country’s space technology capabilities. The Nigerian Communications Satellite Authority, which operates Nigeria’s satellite system, is seeking an international partner to develop two new communications satellites, NigComSat-2a and NigComSat-2b, to replace the aging NIGCOMSAT-1R, which is reaching the end of its operational life. In 2026.
Oshoma said satellites are a scalable and adaptable infrastructure that can rapidly expand internet availability across Nigeria, supporting the government’s 2025 broadband targets and encouraging broader participation in the digital economy. I thought it was possible.
“We are already making impressive progress across the country and satellite companies are perfectly poised to accelerate this progress. For example, we are working with the public and private sectors to improve connectivity and education. Since 2020, we have connected over 700 communities across 21 states and provided 2G and 3G connectivity to over 3.5 million Nigerians.”
He expressed optimism that Avanti will continue to work with the government to ensure that elusive broadband targets are met.
“We want to build on this further and work with our partners to help achieve the goals outlined in the government’s National Development Plan, which aims to unlock the country’s potential in all sectors of the economy. That’s what I think.
Speaking in Kaduna earlier this year, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton Eidehen, said NIGCOMSAT is positioned to provide the nation with reliable internet services that will stimulate innovation and progress in the technology industry.
“Part of our mission as a communications satellite operator is to bridge the digital divide for Nigerians by providing broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved populations.” she stated.
