MTN Nigeria has signalled its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government towards achieving 70% broadband penetration by 2025, with 5G deployment imminent.
Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, General Manager for Fixed Broadband at MTN, said the target could be reached faster through concerted public-private sector collaboration. At the time of her comments, NCC data showed 84.6 million people had broadband access, representing 44.3% penetration.
Aligning with national targets
Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 targets 70% broadband penetration and 90% population coverage, with minimum speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas.
“When we look back at 2012, when we had just about 6% internet penetration, to where we are today, there is significant improvement,” Ikenna-Emeka said. “A lot of work is still being done by the Federal Government and organisations like MTN to achieve the right levels of broadband penetration.”
5G on the horizon
The NCC had set 24 August 2022 for the start of 5G deployment in Nigeria. MTN said its Strategic Ambition 2025 was closely aligned with the government’s broadband targets, with the operator focused on delivering digital solutions to power Africa’s growth. More than a dozen African countries were testing or planning 5G rollouts at the time.
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