• Nigeria to use NigComSat to connect 20 million unserved citizens
  
  
• Satellite, fiber rollout aims to bridge urban-rural digital divide
  
  
• High costs, power gaps, skills shortages pose major implementation hurdles

The Nigerian government plans to leverage its national telecommunications satellite, NigComSat, to expand digital access across the country. The plan, announced at an official event in Abuja, aims to bring internet connectivity to 20 million unconnected Nigerians, especially in rural areas where ground infrastructure is limited.

According to the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NigComSat is a key tool for reaching “unserved and underserved” populations. The initiative forms part of a wider digital transformation program that also includes the rollout of 90,000 km of fiber-optic cable, a central pillar of the national broadband plan for 2020–2025.

Officials say that combining satellite and fiber will help narrow the wide digital divide between urban and rural areas. According to GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024, published in October, Nigeria still has 120 million people who are not connected to mobile internet.

The government also hopes to maximize the potential of NigComSat, a public asset that has remained largely underused. The national satellite operator has announced plans to expand its broadband services and increase its coverage capacity. This improved capacity is intended to support sectors such as telemedicine, online education, digital public services and financial platforms.

Several challenges remain, however. These include the high cost of satellite terminals, unreliable electricity supply, the need for digital skills training and the importance of ensuring data protection.

Adoni Conrad Quenum