MTN Nigeria has announced plans to connect more than eight million homes to its FibreX broadband network by 2028, a major leap from its current base of about 50,000 users. The move is part of the telecom giant’s strategy to expand digital access, boost broadband penetration, and strengthen Nigeria’s internet backbone.
Egerton Idehen, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Broadband Officer, unveiled the plan during a media parley on Thursday, noting that the project aligns with the company’s broader vision of delivering high-speed, low-latency fibre connectivity to homes, small businesses, and public institutions nationwide.
“Our goal is clear — between 2026 and 2028, we want FibreX to reach over 8 million homes across Nigeria,” Idehen said. “When we talk about homes, we mean clusters — families, small businesses, and communities. This is about empowering people to connect and thrive in the digital economy.”
Launched in April 2025, FibreX represents a rebrand and expansion of MTN’s previous fibre broadband service. The initiative supports the National Broadband Plan, which targets 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025 and aims to grow Nigeria’s total fibre network length from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres.
MTN’s rollout strategy centres on deploying fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fibre-to-the-business (FTTB) infrastructure, providing ultra-fast and unlimited internet to urban and semi-urban locations. Idehen said the expansion would improve digital lifestyles for students, remote workers, gamers, and content creators, while supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and tech startups that rely on stable connectivity.
“We’re building a broadband experience for everyday life — for content creators, remote workers, and students alike,” he said. “Our focus is on reliability, low latency, and affordability. Fibre provides unlimited data and consistent speed, removing the daily frustration of data depletion.”
The company said its fibre investment aligns with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s national fibre rollout targets. Idehen added that every kilometre of fibre deployed strengthens Nigeria’s economic resilience and competitiveness.
To accelerate the rollout, MTN is working with infrastructure companies (Infracos), state governments, and local contractors to enhance last-mile connectivity — the critical link between core fibre networks and end users. “Partnerships are key,” Idehen said. “We’re working closely with Infracos, public-private stakeholders, and community associations to ensure faster rollout. MTN is a local content company — we’re building with local knowledge, for local realities.”
Despite the ambitious plan, affordability and infrastructure protection remain key challenges. Fibre vandalism, inconsistent right-of-way policies, and community resistance have slowed progress in some states.
To manage costs, the telco plans to focus deployment on high-demand clusters such as residential estates and communities. “It’s more cost-effective to connect 10 or 20 homes at once than one at a time,” Idehen explained. “That’s why we work with homeowners’ associations to drive collective adoption.”
MTN’s aggressive broadband expansion underscores the growing importance of fixed internet infrastructure in Nigeria’s digital transformation, complementing mobile networks and enabling new opportunities for businesses and households.
