The improvement has coincided with a significant expansion in fibre connectivity, with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) subscriptions tripling between the end of 2024 and June 2026.

The findings are contained in Ookla’s The Uneven Path to High-Speed Connectivity in West Africa report, which examines the impact of fibre deployment, regulation and infrastructure investment on broadband performance across the region.

The report assessed broadband developments in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, with Nigeria recording the strongest and most consistent improvement.

According to Ookla, Nigeria’s median fixed broadband download speed, excluding satellite connections, rose from 13.50 Mbps in 2023 to 34.47 Mbps in the first half of 2026.

“Nigeria’s median fixed broadband download speed (excluding satellite) increased 2.55x from 13.50 Mbps in 2023 to 34.47 Mbps in H1 2026, while its median upload speed rose by nearly the same proportion,” the report said.

The increase represents a 155 per cent rise in median download speed over the period.

Ookla said the growth has been sustained across successive quarters, rather than being driven by a single period of rapid improvement.

“Data from the last two years show that the median download speed consistently rose in every quarter, reflecting a progressive fiber build-out and steady adoption,” it said.

The improvement coincided with a threefold increase in FTTP subscribers between the end of 2024 and June 2026.

Nigeria also recorded improvements across different levels of broadband performance. The country’s P10 download speed, representing users at the lower end of the performance distribution, increased from 2.24 Mbps to 6.04 Mbps.

At the upper end, the P90 download speed increased from 74.37 Mbps to 90.04 Mbps during the same period.

Median upload speed also rose from about 11 Mbps in 2023 to 25.17 Mbps in the first half of 2026, representing an increase of nearly two-and-a-half times.

Meanwhile, median latency improved from 47.9 milliseconds in 2023 to 35.8 milliseconds in the first half of 2026, indicating faster network responsiveness.

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Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive digital development and strengthening governance through technology. “Our vision is to achieve 70% broadband penetration and lay at least 2,000km of fiber optic network across Katsina by 2030, ensuring that both rural and urban communities are fully connected,” he said. Describing broadband connectivity as essential to governance, education, healthcare, security, and economic growth, the governor emphasized that access to fast internet is now a “lifeline” for development.

He outlined several reforms already implemented to attract investment and enhance digital governance. These include establishing a dedicated Directorate of ICT, waiving Right-of-Way charges to encourage private sector participation, and introducing technology-driven systems such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), e-Government platforms, and land administration reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability.

The World Bank has recognized these efforts by awarding Katsina State an $8 million credit under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme. According to Governor Radda, the credit reflects investor confidence in the state’s governance model and its commitment to building a technology-driven economy. “This achievement reflects our seriousness about digital governance, investor confidence, and transparency,” he said, adding that Katsina is positioning itself as a regional leader in digital innovation.

Nigeria’s digital landscape has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by improved telecommunications infrastructure, affordable devices, and rising digital literacy. Katsina ranks among the top 10 states with the highest number of internet users, with about 4.6 million active users, reflecting significant connectivity expansion beyond major cities.

In 2020, the state recorded a 41.46% jump in mobile internet subscribers—the fastest in the country at the time—growing from 2.6 million in Q1 2019 to 3.68 million in Q1 2020. This progress aligns with national efforts to deepen broadband access. Earlier this year, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced a $2 billion broadband project to deliver universal connectivity across all 774 local government areas within three years. The project is expected to add $25 billion annually to Nigeria’s agricultural output and support economic diversification through improved rural connectivity.

Governor Radda stressed that federal collaboration and partnerships with development organizations are key to achieving Katsina’s broadband goals. With this plan, the state is setting the stage to become a major hub for digital growth and innovation in Northern Nigeria.

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The project will be financed through a 49% government and 51% private sector hybrid model, supported by the World Bank, IFC, and the Africa Finance Corporation. Broadband will be classified as a national critical infrastructure to fast-track investment and lower operating costs.

Tijani said broadband expansion could boost GDP by up to 2% annually, citing World Bank data. FibreOne’s Chief Experience Officer, Yinka Isioye, estimated that Nigeria’s broadband gap costs the country $15 billion each year and excludes over 45 million students from digital learning.

Industry leaders say bridging this gap will require collaboration between government and private players to address infrastructure costs, power challenges, and low revenue per user.

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The figures reveal broadband subscriptions fell from 105.7 million in June to 104 million in July. The setback comes despite repeated assurances from the NCC that the country was on track to hit the 70% penetration target set in the National Broadband Plan (NBP 2020–2025) by year-end.

Nigeria has already missed several key milestones in the plan. Broadband penetration was expected to reach 50% by the end of 2023 but stood at 43.71%. The country also failed to meet its 2023 target of ensuring that 70% of telecom subscriptions run on 4G; only 50.85% of the 169.3 million active lines were on 4G as of July 2025.

Analysts say affordability remains a major obstacle. The broadband plan had projected the establishment of a local smartphone assembly plant by 2023 to bring entry-level device prices down to around ₦18,000. However, no such facility exists, and with the naira’s devaluation, the cheapest smartphones now cost upwards of ₦100,000.

The NCC has blamed state-level policies and high Right of Way (RoW) charges for slowing broadband rollout. “Major obstacles to achieving the goals are coming from the states,” said Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida at a recent telecoms forum. Only seven states have waived RoW fees, while operators in others face steep costs to lay fiber infrastructure.

Maida stressed that broadband is “a catalyst for economic growth, driving the digital economy, creating jobs, and fostering entrepreneurship.” He urged states to align regulations to support federal targets, warning that Nigeria risks falling behind in reaping the benefits of digital inclusion.

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The announcement was made by Anshula Kant, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank Group, during a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kant described the broadband project as one of the largest digital infrastructure undertakings globally and a major component of the World Bank’s deepening collaboration with Nigeria.

“One of the biggest forthcoming projects will be in the digital space—providing digital broadband access across the country,” she said, adding that the initiative aligns with broader efforts to accelerate inclusive economic growth and job creation.

Kant highlighted Nigeria’s reform momentum under the Tinubu administration, commending recent macroeconomic policies that she said position the country favorably for long-term support and investment.

“Nigeria is on the right path. The World Bank is committed to helping the country unlock faster economic development and create the jobs and opportunities its population needs,” she said.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Wale Edun, emphasized the transformative nature of the fiber optic project. He noted that the initiative is being led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, under Minister Bosun Tijani, and represents one of the largest efforts of its kind globally.

“This is a landmark project that will significantly enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and connectivity,” Edun said.

Kant also stressed the importance of human capital development and youth employment, pointing to energy access, digital services, and quality healthcare as foundational pillars for Nigeria’s progress.

The meeting underscored the strategic alignment between the World Bank’s development priorities and Nigeria’s national agenda, with upcoming infrastructure investments expected to improve digital access, drive productivity, and uplift living standards across the country.

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has set up a National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) to stimulate adoption and consumption in key public institutions.

The Ministry disclosed this in a white paper released over the weekend.

The institutions being targeted include schools, hospitals, government offices, libraries, and markets, among others.

According to the Ministry, the purpose of the Alliance is to tackle the low and non-consumption challenge and its resultant poor return on investment (ROI) in the nationwide fiber network.

It added that the Alliance was also created to foster collaboration for broadband development and adoption, as well as to position Nigeria at the forefront of the global digital landscape.

Giving further details about the Alliance the Ministry said: “The National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria is a multi-stakeholder collaboration aimed at spearheading a concerted effort to achieve universal broadband access across the nation.

“Recognizing 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.

“The alliance will also serve as a platform for government agencies, telecommunication companies, technology providers, and civil society organizations to coordinate efforts and share resources in support of the Ministry’s agenda for nationwide expansion of broadband services.

“With the national desk at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the NBAN nodes hosted by sub-national governments (states) will work closely with regulatory bodies to streamline processes and remove obstacles hindering the swift deployment of broadband networks.”

It added that the Alliance will 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.

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TECHDIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has invited international telecom companies and potential investors to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people to invest in its telecom sector, especially in infrastructure provisioning for broadband.

Danbatta, who spoke at the inaugural edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2023, which ended in Marrakesh, Morocco recently, said Nigeria presents a stable political and economic conditions.

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Mansur Bamalli, also spoke in the same direction and commended the Commission for its regulatory prowess which has made Nigeria the next investment destination in Africa.

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Danbatta, who was represented at the conference by the Team Lead, Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS), Babagana Digima, said the Commission has a mandate to facilitate the development of the telecom industry in Nigeria, adding that one way through which this can be done is by attracting foreign investors that will further enhance the growth of the economy.

He informed the global stakeholders at the event that Nigerian government has been very supportive of the telecom industry which has achieved an upward growth with over 220 million active mobile voice subscriptions in Nigeria, over 150 million Internet subscriptions and broadband penetration of 48 per cent, the country is yet to be fully connected.

“Our national plan is to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025. We still have less than 50 per cent penetration. This means there is huge investment potential for investors. Nigeria’s telecom sector needs more investment in the area of infrastructure deployment,” the EVC stated.

He stated that the telecom sector in Nigeria has become a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quarter-on-quarter, driving the growth of digital economy in the country.

“The importance of this event for us as a Commission is to showcase the NCC as a Nigerian brand, a foremost telecom regulator in Africa and beyond and to bring about the much-needed investment that will enhance development of the Nigerian telecom industry,” Danbatta said.

he EVC stated that there is abundant talents in Nigeria that can be tapped by investors to support their business operations. “There is abundant human resources waiting to be harnessed by potential investors for ground-breaking global technological innovations and advancement in providing digital solutions.

“This event provides us with the platform to showcase some of the talents that we have discovered in Nigeria. The Commission has sponsored three indigenous start-ups that are at this event to display their solutions for prospective investors and partnerships,” he said.

The GITEX Africa 2023 was the maiden edition of GITEX Global Summit held in Africa. It is poised to be Africa’s most influential forum to accentuate the vast potential of tech-driven digital economy. It aims to be an international platform for cutting-edge technology for all players from both public and private sectors.

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TECHDIGEST – Nigeria and Republic of Niger have signed a bilateral agreement in Abuja for coordination of frequency utilisation along their borders to ensure seamless deployment of services around within the two countries.

The agreement signing ceremony was one of the highlights of the two-day Digital Economy Regional Conference, hosted by the Nigerian government and facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, which ended at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while his Nigerien counterpart, the Minister of Post and New Information Technologies, Mr. Moussa Baraze, signed on behalf of his country.

READ ALSO: NDPB Investigates GT Bank, Zenith Over Data Breach Complaints

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta and Niger Republic’s Chairperson of the National Council for Regulation of Electronic Communications and Post, Mrs. Aichatou Oumani, were witnesses to the agreement, which applies to the co-ordination of frequencies existing in the Nigeria-Niger transboundary areas between 87.5 megahertz (MHz) to 30 gigahertz (GHz).

The agreement indicated it will help in effective coordination and sharing of frequencies and channels in the ‘buffer zone or area’ on borderlines between the two countries and also help to address one of the major issues of signal interference regulation that may arise in telecoms signal transmissions by terrestrial telecoms service providers, as it spells out the procedures for regulating such cases.

The agreement, according to the two parties, provides, in part, that in case of harmful interference affecting one of the parties, the affected party shall inform the other party in writing for necessary action to be carried out.

“Also, the party from whence the interference is originating shall ensure that all necessary means are used to resolve the harmful interference within 30 days of receipt of the notice”, the agreement says.

While the Agreement is without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the parties specified in the Convention, the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other inter-governmental arrangements, it states, however, that the land and mobile services whose use is restricted for security, maritime and national defence or for which information is not available, shall not be subjected to the provisions of the agreement.

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TECH DIGEST- The Federal Government said it would launch a ‘Dig Once’ policy before the end of the year to reduce the cost of broadband infrastructure deployment across the country and ultimately lower the cost of telecom services for consumers.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami disclosed this at the fourth edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) on Dig Once Policy and Fibre Strategy in Nigeria with the theme: Laying the Foundation for Ubiquitous Broadband for Nigeria’s Economic Breakthrough.

He said the policy seeks to promote the installation of ready-made buried fibre conduits for seamless fibre deployment in the country and had received necessary inputs following robust engagements with relevant stakeholders.

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The Minister, who was represented at the event by Engineer Usman Aliyu, Secretary of the Broadband Implementation Steering Committee (BISC) and head of Wireless Network at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the policy is a critical element to attaining 70% broadband penetration by 2025.

“Some of the objectives of the policy are provisioning of shared infrastructure for existing internet service providers and entrants, promotion of installation of ready-made buried fibre conduit for broadband deployment, and reduction of the barriers to entry for Internet Service Providers.
“Others are to promote coordination and reduce the number of excavations and disruptions caused due to fibre installation works, to lower the cost of broadband internet service deployment, to promote the joint installation of infrastructures in a single phase and avoid unnecessary future digging as well as encouraging infrastructure, and to promote a unified and affordable pricing regime across the federation for Right of Ways.”
He also noted that once the policy becomes operational in Nigeria, there would be lower costs of repair and maintenance of installed fibre infrastructure and a lower cost of broadband internet service deployment.

Earlier in his remarks, Omobayo Azeez, convener and lead executive of PIAFo, emphasised that fibre is critical to achieving the 70% broadband penetration Nigeria is currently targeting. He said there is a need for all stakeholders, especially state and local governments to embrace and domesticate the policy in their respective states.

“According to the National Broadband Plan, we are targeting a network of 90,000km and 120,000km of non-overlapping fibre infrastructure by 2023 and 2025 respectively from just 40,000km in 2020.
“As of the end of 2021, data by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicated that total fibre Optics so far deployed in Nigeria stood at 74,947km, including 47,128.7km on-land and 27,818.3km submarine.
“This indicates that we still have a long way to go to attain pervasive broadband infrastructure that will deliver high-speed internet to power our digital economy dream. However, dedicated efforts on dig once policy will help us to get there faster and with moderated cost implication,” he said.

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TECH DIGEST- The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Thursday in Abuja, told a gathering designed for State Governors that the potentials of broadband are so enormous that if made available for their citizens, will be the best gift for their economic emancipation.

Pantami told the state governors and their representatives and other industry stakeholders at the maiden edition of Broadband Technical Awareness Forum for Governors (BTAF), organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), where Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, gave an impressive report card about what he has already achieved with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education sector, and many other sectors of the Edo State economy.

READ ALSO: Pantami Launches Partnership with Coursera to Offer 24,000 Nigerians Digital Skills

Pantami stated that greater support and collaboration will be required from the State governors towards addressing challenges to broadband infrastructure deployment by the telecom companies, which are expected to deploy required infrastructure to provide broadband services in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“This is because, more than ever before, our security, economic and educational development rely on having state-based broadband structure and framework that will articulate the key targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, and this is the essence of this forum today,” he said.

According to the Minister, access to broadband is globally recognized today as a necessity and not luxury and that explains Federal Government’s decision to develop broadband plans aimed at deepening in-country connectivity to enhance socio-economic development.

The Minister who established correlates between broadband penetration and growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stated that countries with high density of broadband network have higher GDP per capital for the citizens. He said the steady growth in broadband penetration over the years in Nigeria is directly reflecting on the economic growth of the country.

Gov. Obaseki, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of other state governors and listed efforts made by state governments in encouraging broadband infrastructure deployment, assured stakeholders of the readiness and willingness of the state governments to work more with the Federal Government but emphasized the need for increased open dialogue and trust between the States and the Federal Government.

Representatives of other state governors also expressed their determination to co-operate more with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the NCC and other telecoms companies to facilitate deployment of fibre infrastructure which they believe would improve the socio-economic lives of citizens.

Chairman, Board of Commissioners at NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, had in his remarks, said Nigeria deserves to be in tune as the world goes digital in all spheres, as we cannot afford to lag in being among the countries leveraging broadband for socio-economic development.

“We recognize the fact that Nigeria is a nation with federating units. Hence, it would be difficult to achieve faster and desired broadband penetration level without effective collaboration with the state governors,” he said. Akande particularly emphasised the centrality of synergy to tackle all challenges undermining broadband deployment, particularly multiple taxation, right of way (RoW), denial of access to telecoms sites for maintenance, vandalism, insecurity, among others” the Chairman of NCC Board of Commissioners said.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, in his own submission, said the objective of the event was to seek better understanding and rich resolutions to all issues affecting faster broadband deployment. He reminded participants that, “though we are making gradual progress towards our target, but this forum will provide us with deeper insights on how to address identified challenges to broadband deployment.”

At the event attended by over 170 delegates and following discussion at the technical panel session, several resolutions were made towards ensuring accessible, available, and affordable broadband services that will support the overall socio-economic development in the country. A key decision taken at the forum is the urgent need to establish State Broadband Coordinating Council, as a Sub-National Structure at the state level which is urgently required to enhance the accomplishment of the objectives of the NNBP.

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