By CHIDIEBERE NWANWO
The Executive Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for concerted efforts at fibre infrastructure development and protection in the country, as a means of breaking away from the growth constraint being experienced in the sector.
In a Communiqué issued at the end of its 109th meeting, the Board accepted the report on data consumption trends in Nigeria as released by the NCC, and noted that, while demand continues to accelerate, growth has been constrained by limited infrastructure capacity, a heavy dependence on mobile internet connectivity and the duplication of assets, factors that have invariably compromised quality of service.
According to the Board, led by its Chairman, Idris Olorunnimbe, the growth in Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections has been encouraging, with increase from 84,141 subscribers in Q4 2025 to 210,065 subscribers as at Q1 2026. Daily internet traffic across major telecom providers like MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria regularly exceeds 45,000 terabytes, driven heavily by increased urban usage in hubs like Lagos.
While the number of connections remains modest, relative to the scale of national demand, the upward trend reflects growing adoption of fixed broadband services. “Continued expansion of FTTH and other fixed-fibre connections will help to ease pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with more connectivity options,” the Board noted.
Leading Providers of FTTH are FiberOne Broadband ipNX, Layer3, and Legend Internet. Major providers have built infrastructure passing over 100,000 to 200,000 homes across key metro regions, but actual active subscribers remain a fraction of this footprint.
The Board further noted that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre, supported by expanded metropolitan fibre networks, will enable more homes, buildings and businesses to connect to fixed broadband services. Over time, this should help to reduce underlying connectivity costs, create the conditions for more affordable retail data services and improve network resilience.
The NCC Board posited that this structured approach represents the most sustainable pathway to meeting Nigeria’s data needs over the next decade, consistent with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and the target of a $1 trillion economy.
While setting the tone for growth, the Board noted the prevailing sectoral challenges affecting the operations of licensees of the Commission, including infrastructure vandalism, which has continued to hamper industry growth. It acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect telecommunications infrastructure following its designation as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
However, it emphasised the need for greater collaboration among industry stakeholders to strengthen the protection and security of network facilities and related infrastructure. In this regard, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to fast-tracking initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure security, including exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund.
The Board further applauded the Commission’s ongoing review of the telecommunications market structure to reflect current market realities, including the distinct roles of the wholesale and retail segments and the application of appropriate regulatory measures where necessary.
This followed a presentation of updates on industry and operational matters as part of the Report by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.
