Telcos urge states to cut fibre deployment costs

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Nigeria’s telecom regulators and industry executives have called on state governments to reduce the cost burden on fibre deployment, warning that the country’s broadband expansion is under pressure from rising infrastructure damage, uneven policy enforcement, and high rollout costs.

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The appeal came at a Lagos forum organised by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria recently, where stakeholders said the success of nationwide fibre‑to‑the‑home expansion will depend heavily on cost reforms, stronger infrastructure protection, and improved coordination across federal and state authorities.

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Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida, said fibre infrastructure had become a foundational layer of the country’s digital economy and should be treated as a national development priority rather than a purely commercial undertaking.

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“Fibre infrastructure is now foundational to Nigeria’s digital economy, inclusive growth, and global competitiveness,” Maida told the conference on a video call. “If internet connectivity underpins how Nigerians learn, work, trade, and govern, then fibre deployment must be treated as a national imperative.”

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He said the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE, which targets the deployment of about 90,000 kilometres of additional fibre optic cable across all 774 local government areas, remained central to expanding broadband access and improving network resilience.

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However, Maida warned that infrastructure protection remained a major constraint to progress. According to him, the industry recorded more than 27,685 fibre cuts, over 27,000 cases of access denial, and 4,210 theft incidents between January and December 2025.

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“These figures underline why the protection of telecommunications infrastructure must now be treated as a shared national duty,” he said, adding that the full implementation of the presidential order designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure was essential.

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A recurring theme at the forum was the high cost of right‑of‑way approvals imposed by some state governments, which operators said continued to slow deployment and raise project costs.

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Maida said excessive charges, delays in approvals, and multiple permitting requirements were discouraging investment and slowing national broadband progress. He urged states to recognise the long‑term economic value of digital infrastructure over short‑term revenue gains.

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Thirteen states have waived RoW charges entirely, while 16 others have adopted the National Economic Council’s recommended rate of N145 per linear metre, according to the NCC.

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Industry operators said beyond cost pressures, Nigeria’s fibre rollout is also being constrained by weak coordination and inadequate infrastructure planning.

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Chief Technology Officer at FiberOne, Adetola Akinmade, called for telecom infrastructure to be formally treated as a national asset and proposed the establishment of a “Digital Utility Corridor” to standardise fibre deployment alongside other public utilities.

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He said uncoordinated pole mounting and inconsistent deployment standards continued to undermine efficiency, though regulatory monitoring efforts were ongoing.

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ATCON President Tony Emoekpere said Nigeria’s fibre challenge extended beyond deployment volumes to the long‑term survivability of infrastructure.

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“Every fibre project has two lives – public and private,” Emoekpere said. “The second life is where the real challenge begins.”

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He said fibre networks must be able to withstand vandalism, regulatory bottlenecks, power instability, and affordability constraints if they are to deliver sustainable value.

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Panel discussions at the forum highlighted persistent concerns over fragmented infrastructure planning and weak shared‑access models. Stakeholders stressed the need for standardised duct systems with multiple access points to improve efficiency and reduce duplication.

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Representatives from Oyo, Edo, and Kogi states pledged support for fibre rollout initiatives, including improved regulation and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing vandalism and infrastructure damage.

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Chief Executive of Open Access Data Centres, Dr Ayotunde Coker, said infrastructure sharing could significantly reduce deployment costs and improve long‑term sustainability.

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A pilot infrastructure audit conducted by ATCON’s Fibre Cleanup Committee in collaboration with regulators in Lagos found widespread deficiencies, including abandoned cables, poor labelling, damaged hardware, and unauthorised attachments to existing infrastructure.

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The assessment also flagged safety risks to motorists and pedestrians and highlighted maintenance challenges caused by poor coordination among operators.

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Industry executives said Nigeria’s broadband ambitions would depend not only on expanding fibre networks but also on whether the ecosystem can sustain, protect, and economically support them over time.

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