Telecom operators in Nigeria, under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), are voicing their optimism about the nation surpassing the ambitious 70% broadband penetration target by December 2025.
The Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, shared this upbeat outlook, citing promising initial statistics and recent industry advancements.
Adebayo highlighted the groundwork laid by the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, in setting the stage for achieving the 70% broadband penetration goal.
A commitment to build on these achievements was reiterated by the current Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who expressed determination to meet the target set by his predecessor.
The licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) across Nigeria’s geopolitical regions and the rollout of 5G networks by telecoms operators are cited as significant factors contributing to the positive trajectory.
Adebayo underscored the impact of these developments, emphasizing the potential for substantial increases in broadband subscriptions and penetration since August 2023.
While acknowledging a slight dip in broadband subscriptions and penetration in June, July, and August 2023, Adebayo remains optimistic that the numbers have seen a significant upswing in the period between August and December 2023.
The ALTON Chairman expects that the latest statistics, to be released by NCC in December, will reflect a substantial leap, reinforcing the belief that Nigeria is well on its way to exceeding the 70% broadband penetration target.