…As NCC boss set to lead broadband policy forum
By Shola Adeoye
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria has expressed concern over persistent challenges slowing the rollout of fibre broadband infrastructure across Nigeria, warning that the obstacles could undermine the country’s digital transformation ambitions.
The association said the issues surrounding fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment have become critical and require urgent attention from regulators, operators and policymakers to accelerate broadband penetration and digital inclusion.
This comes as ATCON President, Tony Emoekpere, confirmed that the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, will deliver the keynote address at the Critical Conversation Forum on FTTH scheduled for June 30, 2026, in Lagos.
The forum, themed “Fibre to the Home in Nigeria: Addressing Challenges, Strengthening Standards, and Ensuring Sustainable Deployment,” is expected to bring together telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers, investors, policymakers and state government representatives to discuss solutions to the challenges facing fibre deployment nationwide.
According to ATCON, the confirmation of the NCC chief has heightened expectations for the event, which is expected to generate actionable recommendations for accelerating broadband expansion.
The association noted that fibre broadband infrastructure has become increasingly important to Nigeria’s economic development and digital economy agenda, but operators continue to grapple with numerous constraints that hinder investment and network rollout.
Among the key challenges identified are multiple taxation, high right-of-way charges, regulatory bottlenecks, infrastructure vandalism, inconsistent state government policies, high capital expenditure requirements and limited access to financing.
ATCON also highlighted weak stakeholder coordination, quality assurance concerns and sustainability issues affecting long-term maintenance of fibre networks.
The association argued that fibre broadband infrastructure requires a regulatory framework distinct from that of mobile telecommunications because of its fixed infrastructure nature, higher investment costs and longer return-on-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 stated.
ATCON further noted that many existing telecom policies were developed during the mobile telecommunications boom and may no longer adequately address the complexities associated with fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-premises networks.
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The forum is expected to focus on practical solutions, including regulatory reforms, infrastructure protection, technical standards, sustainable financing models, infrastructure sharing, consumer protection and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
The association stressed that expanding fibre broadband access is essential for supporting Nigeria’s digital economy goals, including job creation, e-commerce growth, digital inclusion and improved access to education and healthcare services.
ATCON said the discussions would also explore ways to strengthen state government participation in broadband expansion and remove longstanding barriers to network deployment.
The association expressed optimism that the participation of the NCC leadership would help build consensus around the reforms required to accelerate fibre infrastructure development and improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
