Industry leaders at the Africa Hyperscalers Company Connectivity Workshop have identified inland coordination, rather than coastal capacity, as the critical bottleneck limiting broadband expansion in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event held last week in Lagos, operators, regulators, and infrastructure providers noted that while more than 360 terabits per second (Tbps) of subsea capacity currently land in Nigeria, fixed broadband penetration remains below 6 percent. Participants agreed that the challenge lies in fragmented infrastructure development beyond the coast and the lack of coordinated planning across the broadband value chain.
Discussions centered on the need to reduce infrastructure duplication, address middle-mile fragmentation, reform state-level right-of-way policies, strengthen internet exchange points (IXPs) outside major urban centers, and adopt consortium-style models—similar to those used for subsea cables—for inland fiber deployment. According to participants, isolated network builds are unlikely to deliver nationwide impact without shared frameworks and execution.
The consensus from the workshop emphasized that no single operator or institution can resolve Nigeria’s broadband challenges alone. Speakers stressed that sustained collaboration, shared infrastructure, and clear, consistent regulatory rules will be essential to unlocking the country’s digital potential.
The workshop brought together senior executives and technical leaders from government, telecom operators, data center companies, tower firms, and broadband providers, reflecting growing industry alignment around the need for collective action.
Organizers acknowledged IHS Towers for sponsoring the session, noting that while the path forward will require significant effort, the discussions helped clarify practical steps toward improving broadband access and accelerating Nigeria’s digital development.