Nigeria has one of the highest consumption of data among other African countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, only South Africa tops Nigeria’s monthly data consumption. Nigerian users consume 80,000 terabytes (80 million gigabytes) while South Africa consumes up to 269,000 terabytes (269 million gigabytes) every month. Despite these numbers, the cost of data is not cheap for the average Nigerians. For instance, in 2022, Nigeria ranked as one of the top five countries in Africa with the highest costs of data.
Data shows that 1GB of data cost $0.61 on average. Considering this average cost of 1GB data at N487.18 as announced by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) in 2020, Nigerians spent at least N100.3 billion on internet data in the year under review. According to the subscriber/network data report released by the NCC, data usage in 2020 increased from 123,648 terabytes (which was recorded in 2019) to 205,880.4 terabytes. This represents a 66.5 percent increase during the review period. The report also revealed that broadband penetration peaked at 45.93 percent within the year.
Stakeholders say fiber broadband will help reduce user data costs.
The report also revealed that GSM operators had a 12.33 percent increase in revenue from N2.02 trillion recorded in 2019 to N2.27 trillion in the review period. Internet service providers generated a sum of N68.96 billion in revenues, a 28.31 percent increase compared to N53.75 billion recorded in 2019. Nonetheless, industry stakeholders disclosed to the media that fiber broadband is a sure way of cutting down the huge amount of money spent on data. However, this proposed idea is not without challenges.
Fiber broadband is a type of high-speed internet connection that uses fiber-optic technology to transmit data from the telephone exchange to users’ area. Fiber optic cables are faster in transferring data than standard copper wires. So, a fiber broadband connection is faster than DSL, cable and satellite broadband connections. Dr. Kenny Joda, Head of Sales at FibreOne Broadband, spoke to the media on the benefits of fiber broadband. According to Dr. Joda, nothing affects fiber broadband connectivity, not even bad weather.
The technology is presently not a mass market service.
With 5G internet connectivity now in place, Dr. Joda said connectivity becomes much faster with fiber broadband. In the long run, the technology will also be much cheaper than the others. Speaking on the company’s product, Dr. Joda explained, “Other than the initial cost of installation, you get value for money and we at FibreOne offer unlimited data, in that once you pay N11,000, it lasts for one month without disruptions. You can connect all your devices and it won’t finish within the one-month subscription.”
On the other hand, the Chief Operating Officer, eStream Networks Limited, Martins Akingba, explained to the press that the technology could cut down the cost of data if it is deployed everywhere in Nigeria. However, it is not a mass market service as of today in Nigeria. Akingba said it would take years of investments to make any appreciable impact in the use of fiber optics for delivering internet service in the country. Even in advanced countries, the technology is only available in metropolitan areas. In Nigeria today, it is still restricted to major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and some other capital cities.
FG targets 90% broadband penetration by 2025.
Another challenge is lack of infrastructure, especially power. Akingba said the absence of an incumbent national operator has forced private investors to disallow other local providers access this infrastructure. Fortunately, the Federal Government had realized that broadband penetration is significant to reducing the cost of data. Hence, it has targeted 70 percent broadband penetration to cover 90 percent of the population by 2025. To achieve this, the government has reduced the right-of-way tariff to N150 per meter. Dr. Joda also disclosed that the Federal Government has given Internet Service Providers (ISPs) a lot of assistance as effort to boost broadband penetration in Nigeria.
Related Link
Wikipedia: Website
Fiber broadband to cut internet data costs – It is 50 times faster than any radio connectivity used by GSM operators. – Express your point of view.
Fiber broadband is very important for data supply. To get a very good and connected data supply, the broadband needs to be better. I hope we are already increasing our capacity regarding this.
Fiber broadband has the potential to revolutionize the way we use the internet and can provide significant cost savings for businesses and individuals who rely on the internet for their everyday needs.
Fiber broadband to cut internet data costs. Is good to have a very good and fast internet data. Data usage has become very important because many people can not do without data.
The fibre broadband connection will really do Nigeria good because Nigeria is top among the nations that uses internet most and this makes us more money on data with very slow speed like other countries but with the fibre connection,it will be a good development.
Data is life many people are making use of data Fiber broadband to cut internet data costs this is very good we need fast internet data to be using
The daily consumption of data in Nigeria is way too high. Majority uses thousands of naira just to buy data weekly. We need to capitalize on the Fiber broadband and utilize it’s potential to our advantage.
It’s probably obvious that investing in fibre optics to improve internet service delivery across the country will take a long time, so we should start from now so it can be faster.
Installing fibre broadband is something I support since it will undoubtedly reduce the enormous sums of money spent on purchasing data.
There is a lot of promise for fibre broadband to change the way which we employ internet access and save money for people and companies who depend on it for their livelihood.
For Nigerian to achieve 50 times faster than any radio connectivity used by GSM operators on internet connection and at a cheaper rate it will be better to go for the Fiber broadband.
Nigeria being one of the highest consumer of data among other African countries deserve a cheaper and faster internet and as such Fiber broadband is which is cost effective and 50 times faster than any radio connectivity used by GSM is in best position for this.
Nigeria ranks first among the world’s top internet users, which means the country spends a disproportionate amount of money on data due to internet speeds that are far lower than those in other countries.