Broadband penetration in Nigeria increased to 45.43 percent by the end of October 2020, the Federal Government said on Wednesday.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said the rise was due to an increase of 4,061,731 broadband subscriptions between September and October 2020.
He said the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy led to the rise in broadband subscriptions across the country during the review month.
Pantami, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Technical Assistant, Information Technology, Femi Adeluyi, observed that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 had impacted significantly on broadband penetration.
The minister noted that the plan was implemented alongside the harmonization of Right-of-Way charges in all states and the protection of critical national infrastructure across the country.
He explained that broadband was critical to sustainable economic growth, adding that it grew the economy by enhancing efficiency in business processes, as well as accelerating innovation.
According to the statement, a report titled ‘How important is mobile broadband networks for Global Economic Development’ shows that 10 percent increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6 percent to 2.8 percent rise in Gross Domestic Product.
“In some countries, it increases the GDP by over six percent,” it stated.
The statement further stated that Pantami had directed the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency, as the regulators of Internet services, to ensure that quality of service improved nationwide.
Pantami urged stakeholders to keep supporting his ministry in the implementation of the broadband plan for the overall benefit of the Nigerian economy.