Just In : FG approves cheap internet, broadband services
The federal government has concluded its plans on a comprehensive roadmap to attain cheap internet and broadband services across the country, The Nation has learnt.
The roadmap would also address underserved and unserved communities in rural areas and places affected by security challenges, especially in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states and about 300 communities across Nigeria.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani is spearheading the drive with telecom stakeholders and regulatory bodies to improve and accelerate broadband penetration beyond the current 45.5 percent.
But telecom companies have also complained of multiple taxation/levies, access to foreign exchange and the challenges associated with Right of Way (RoW) as critical areas to be addressed for the government approach to yield the desired results as soon as possible.
Dr Tijani has been largely quiet in pursuing his agenda for the ministry, insisting that it should be in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to create jobs, wealth and reduce poverty.
A document emanating from the office of the minister showed that for the first quarter of 2024, the Minister approved the launch of an initiative to boost broadband development and adoption in Edo, Ogun, Kwara, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Borno, and Nasarawa states.
Katsina, Kwara and Edo states have zero charges for RoW, making it possible for telecom companies to lay fibre optic cables and install infrastructures seamlessly.
Our correspondent gathered that the minister’s initiative called the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria is aimed at solving low-fibre network rollout in the country.
According to the document titled, ‘Broadband Access for All: Introduction Deepening Nigeria’s National Backbone and Middle Mile Infrastructure,’
Tijani suggested a multi-stakeholder approach to the challenges of developing telecom infrastructures across the country.
The initiative explained ways by which Nigeria would achieve unprecedented benefits from internet/broadband services in speed, reliability, and future scaling.
It maintained that such could be achieved when Nigeria build modern broadband infrastructures.
The document made references to the 2019 Broadband Plan, which says the country needs at least 120,000km of fibre optic cables to achieve its coverage goal.
The document reads in part: “To tackle the low and non-consumption challenge and its resultant poor ROI in a nationwide fibre network, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has initiated a National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria to foster collaboration for broadband development and adoption, as well as position Nigeria at the forefront of the global digital landscape.
“Recognising the imperativeness of broadband in economic development, the alliance will bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to collaboratively develop a sustainable business model(s) for driving the adoption and consumption of Internet in key critical public institutions (schools, hospitals, government offices, libraries and markets etc.) across the nation.
“It will also drive digital inclusion and awareness to ensure the inclusion of all segments of society in the digital economy and benefit from the advantages of broadband connectivity.
“The pilot of this initiative will kick off in 7 states of the country before the end of Q1 2024. The initial states are Edo, Ogun, Kwara, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Borno and Nasarawa.
“These initial states have been considered using their present broadband investment and management of fibre optic challenges in their respective states such as such as waiver of the Right of Way fee.”
