Nigerians “Thirsty in Ocean of Broadband”

As it stands today, the available bandwidth in Nigeria is potentially infinite. In fact, it is safer to say that Nigeria is swimming in an ocean of bandwidth with the avalanche of undersea cable systems, each with landing points on the shores of the country.

Many Nigerians are still without a drop of the roaring ocean; they still have to contend with unreliable, slow and very expensive internet services.

This is a typical case of starving in the midst of plenty. Those that do not have broadband access wonder why so much emphasis is placed on availability and why Internet access is so important.
The white noise about broadband internet began with the ambitious projects launched by Main One and Glo 1; Two home grown companies driven by patriotism to make internet truly ubiquities and affordable.

Elsewhere, the West African Cable System (WACS), an initiative operated by nine countries (including Nigeria’s TN Group) joined the fray.

Before the flood of undersea cable systems, the only cable system serving Nigeria’s internet and data needs was the SAT-3/WASC or South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable.

There is also the ACE submarine cable system covering Nigeria and other countries.  ACE submarine cable system is also among these, a carrier that covers Nigeria and other countries.  

Even with the arrival of some of these cable systems, most Nigerians are still without access to cheaper internet services because the absence of “so-called” last mile infrastructure, which can distribute the bandwidth.

Last mile infrastructure is that transmission infrastructure telecommunications operators’ use to deliver services to potential subscribers at their domains.

Basically, infrastructure required in this regard includes optic fiber and microwave.

Apart from the absence of last mile infrastructure, the obstacles confronting broadband penetration in Nigeria are legion.

They include, lack of policy framework for broadband infrastructure development; Nigeria’s notoriously unreliable power supply; claim of right of ways by local and state governments; and multiple regulation and taxation.

As a matter of fact, about 70 percent of the problems encountered by the telecom sector with its broad implications for development of broadband infrastructure are public power supply related.

The recent activities and threat of the Boko Haram, the Islamist fundamentalist sect in the northern parts of thecountry has also conspired to limit investments in some places in the region.

Broadband is the next big thing and Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind.

Nigeria needs to break through the policy and environmental barriers for broadband deeper penetration.

Broadband represents huge opportunities for social and economic progress of Nigeria because it facilitates the delivery of more effective healthcare, banking, better education, smoother and more transparent governance, sustainable environment, more efficient transportation, national security, as well as, smarter and more economical energy supplies.

The government should release the digital dividend spectrum to deliver broadband services to rural areas and reduce the tax level faced by Nigerian mobile operators.