Nigeria with an estimated population of about 167million people, according to the National Population Commission (NPC), has broadband penetration of 6.8per cent indicating that only 9,420.00million populace accessing high speed internet.
The growing demand for data services just like the boom experienced in the voice after the deregulation of telecoms sector has made the need for high speed connectivity compelling in the country.
Even though, the Federal Government set a target of 50per cent broadband speeds by 2015 but Nigerians expect to be able to access the internet and the most demanding content in real time with a minimum speed of 1.5 megabit per second.
According to TestMy.net, the minimum internet speed in the country should be around 1.93 Mbps, Medium at 6.34 Mbps and at 8.19 Mbps maximum.
Ookla NetIndex, the global leader in broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications in 2012 ranked Nigeria 129th in the world and 9th in Africa in terms of broadband download speeds with 2.30 Mbps.
This speed is expected to improve, as constant revisions will be done to keep up with the trend of future technological developments
Broadband penetration is a core driver of economic development through the establishment of informed and elite communities as well as social advancements.
The improvement of broadband services in the country will empower youth entrepreneurs, increase their access to information and eliminate frustrations associated with dismal internet speed currently experienced in the most parts of Nigeria.
The Federal Government through the Minister of Communication Technology has being striving hard to improve broadband access in the country with a national framework tagged the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2013- 2018 and a Broadband Council responsible for implementation of the plan.
Also, the Minister Mrs Omobola Johnson recently unveiled a Broadband Awareness Campaign to sensitize Nigerians and stimulate bringing high-speed Internet access capable of boosting the economic and social life of every Nigerian.
Johnson who noted that the Broadband Council, of which she is Chairman, initiated the awareness campaign with the slogan: “Connected Nigeria, Connected Nigerians,” to bring broadband Internet access to all Nigerians and to encourage its adoption and use.
The minister said the campaign is to raise awareness of the transformational benefits of broadband and disseminate information about its benefits.
Investigations shown that Nigerians especially the youths are aware of the potentials of broadband but its quite unfortunate that its not available at the rate to bring about their life transformation yet.
Also, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) isn’t resting in ensuring adequate broadband penetration in the country as the commission recently auctioned 2.3GHz spectrum to Bitflux Communications to deliver high speed internet for Nigerians.
Part of the commission’s determination to create effective internet access also informed a private driven approach to drive broadband penetration.
NCC had announced plans to license infrastructure companies (InfraCos). The InfraCos are companies that will improve provision of broadband services through the use of critical Information and Communication Technology infrastructure across the six-geopolitical zones in the country.
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah was quoted to have confirmed at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain in a presentation titled, ‘A vision for digital Africa’ that broadband access is a major need in the Nigerian economy and this why government is also encouraging foreign investors into this aspect of telecommunications.
The EVC said, “There is a huge market there in Nigeria and the profitability is not in doubt, if we are to look at what happened in the mobile sector where operators are still trying to meet the demand.”
Meanwhile, Steve Wozniak, an American inventor, computer engineer, programmer and the co-founder of Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) at a Leadership Seminar organised by MTN Nigeria advised that radio as the best option to deliver internet service in Nigeria.
He said, “Radio has more ability to spread internet around in a country like Nigeria than fibres on the ground.”
