Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator and key industry stakeholders are working on a new regulatory approach for fibre broadband deployment as the country grapples with mounting infrastructure challenges that are slowing down broadband expansion and the wider digital economy.
According to a report by BusinessDay, the move is aimed at addressing persistent obstacles hindering the rapid rollout of fibre optic infrastructure across the nation. Despite significant investments in the sector over the years, experts say current regulatory and infrastructural bottlenecks continue to limit progress toward national broadband targets.
The fresh regulatory framework is expected to tackle issues such as Right of Way (RoW) charges, multiple taxation, vandalism of infrastructure, and coordination between government agencies and private operators.
Fibre broadband is considered critical infrastructure for Nigeria’s digital transformation. High-speed internet is essential for economic growth, education, healthcare, fintech, e-commerce, and overall national development. However, deployment has been slower than expected due to high costs, regulatory hurdles, and security concerns.
Industry players believe that a more supportive and streamlined regulatory environment will attract greater investment and accelerate fibre rollout, especially in underserved and rural areas.This development aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital economy agenda, which seeks to position Nigeria as a leading tech hub in Africa.
As stakeholders push for these reforms, expectations are high that the new approach will lead to faster approvals, reduced costs, and better collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other relevant bodies are expected to provide more details on the proposed regulatory changes in the coming weeks.
