• Government targets Internet access for 20 million unconnected Nigerians, mainly in rural areas.

• NigComSat and a 90,000-km fibre rollout form part of the national broadband plan (2020–2025).

• Nigeria counts 120 million people without mobile Internet, according to GSMA’s 2024 report.

Nigeria’s government said it aims to create a favourable environment for innovation and private investment, with mass Internet connectivity forming a core component of its strategy.

Officials in Abuja announced a plan to expand digital inclusion by relying on NigComSat, the national telecommunications satellite. The initiative seeks to bring Internet access to 20 million Nigerians who currently remain offline, particularly in rural areas where terrestrial infrastructure remains limited.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy said NigComSat offers a strategic tool for reaching “unserved or underserved” communities. The move aligns with a broader digital transformation agenda that includes deploying 90,000 km of fibre-optic infrastructure nationwide under the 2020–2025 National Broadband Plan.

Authorities said the combined use of satellite and fibre will help narrow Nigeria’s persistent digital divide between urban and rural communities.

They recalled that the State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2024, published by GSMA in October 2024, estimated that Nigeria has 120 million people without mobile Internet access.

The government also said it wants to maximise the value of NigComSat, a public asset long considered underutilised. The national satellite operator announced plans to expand its broadband services and improve its coverage capability.

Officials said this expansion will support key sectors such as telemedicine, e-education, digital public services and financial platforms.

Despite the momentum, authorities acknowledged several hurdles. These include the cost of satellite-access equipment, power-supply reliability, digital-skills training and the need to strengthen data-protection frameworks.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum