Telcos under pressure to resolve fibre broadband bottlenecks

Telecommunications operators and regulators are under growing pressure to address bottlenecks slowing Nigeria’s fibre broadband rollout as industry stakeholders prepare for a high-level policy forum in Lagos.

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria said the issues surrounding fibre-to-the-home deployment have become critical to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, warning that current challenges are limiting broadband expansion and digital inclusion.

This comes as the President of ATCON, Tony Emoekpere, confirmed that the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming Critical Conversation Forum on FTTH scheduled for 30 June 2026, in Lagos.

The forum is expected to bring together telecommunications companies, infrastructure providers, investors, policymakers, and state governments to address structural challenges affecting fibre deployment across the country.

ATCON said the confirmation of the NCC boss has heightened expectations for the event themed “Fibre to the Home in Nigeria: Addressing Challenges, Strengthening Standards, and Ensuring Sustainable Deployment.”

According to the association, fibre broadband infrastructure is increasingly central to Nigeria’s economic growth, but operators continue to face multiple constraints that have slowed investment and rollout.

These include multiple taxation, high right-of-way charges, regulatory bottlenecks, infrastructure vandalism, inconsistent state policies, high capital expenditure requirements, and limited access to financing for broadband projects.

Others are weak coordination among stakeholders, quality assurance concerns, and sustainability challenges affecting long-term network maintenance.

ATCON argued that fibre broadband deployment requires a distinct regulatory approach, different from mobile telecommunications, due to its fixed infrastructure nature, higher capital intensity, and long-term investment cycle.

“The fibre broadband ecosystem is fundamentally different from mobile telecommunications and requires tailored regulatory frameworks that reflect its unique operational realities,” the association said in a statement.

It added that existing policies developed during the mobile telecom era may not adequately address the complexities of FTTH and fibre-to-the-premises networks.

The association said the forum will focus on practical solutions, including regulatory reforms, infrastructure protection, technical standards, sustainable financing models, infrastructure sharing, consumer protection, and improved collaboration among stakeholders.

It noted that improving fibre broadband penetration is essential to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions, including job creation, digital inclusion, e-commerce growth, and improved access to education and healthcare services.

ATCON said the engagement is expected to produce actionable recommendations to accelerate broadband deployment and strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure sector.

The forum is also expected to explore ways to deepen state government participation in broadband expansion and address long-standing operational barriers affecting network rollout.

ATCON expressed optimism that the participation of the NCC leadership would help drive consensus on reforms needed to accelerate fibre infrastructure development nationwide.