Pantami: Broadband penetration hits 45.43% in October

Nigeria’s Broadband Penetration increased to 45.43% by the end of October 2020.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, expressed delight with the development.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said this could be deduced from an increase of 4,061,731 broadband subscriptions between September and October 2020.

This notable increase in broadband penetration has been as a result of conscientious implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy for the overall benefit of the economy to achieve a Digital Nigeria.

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In particular, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), along with the harmonisation of Right of Way charges across the States and protection of Critical National Infrastructure across the country, among others, has had a significant impact on the broadband penetration.

Pantami said that broadband was critical to sustainable economic growth and according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Broadband Series, “broadband contributes to economic growth through more efficiency in business processes, acceleration of innovation and more efficient functional deployment of enterprises.”

ITU’s recent report: “How Important Are Mobile Broadband Networks for Global Economic Development” shows that 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6% to 2.8% rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In some countries, it increases the GDP by over 6%.

The increase in broadband penetration is leading to the growth of Nigeria’s economy in a way that transcends the ICT sector.

Broadband has supported growth and enabled financial institutions in the delivery of services to their customers.

It has also enabled the provision of digital services across the different sectors of the economy.

Pantami said that: “It is noteworthy that all these are part of the digital economy, which has been defined as ‘that part of economic output derived solely or primarily from digital technologies with a business model based on digital goods or services’ – consisting of the digital sector plus emerging digital and platform services.”

The Minister had reportedly directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as the regulators of Internet services, to ensure that quality of service improves.

According to the statement, “Dr Pantami would also like to urge all stakeholders to keep supporting the Ministry in the implementation of the Broadband Plan for the overall benefit of the economy.” (With additional reports from Techeconomy.ng)