Technology firm, ipNX, has called for stronger collaboration across the telecommunications industry and wider adoption of open-access infrastructure models to bridge Nigeria’s connectivity gap and accelerate nationwide broadband penetration.

The call was made during the first panel session of the recently concluded Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ICTEL EXPO, titled, ‘Broadband, Fibre & Telecoms Infrastructure: Solving Nigeria’s Connectivity Gap’.
The discussion brought together industry leaders to examine barriers to broadband expansion and practical solutions for improving digital connectivity across Nigeria.

Speaking during the session, Divisional Chief Executive Officer, ipNXBusiness, Oluseyi Lala, highlighted the economic realities of broadband deployment, particularly in underserved and low-density communities.

“Deploying broadband infrastructure is capital-intensive,” Lala said, adding: “The cost of building infrastructure, providing reliable power, transporting equipment to remote locations and maintaining networks in difficult terrains significantly impacts deployment economics. These challenges become even greater in low-density environments.”

Lala also noted that while Nigeria continued to make progress towards its broadband penetration targets, improving the quality of broadband services must receive equal attention.

“Achieving Nigeria’s broadband ambitions will require more than fibre alone. We need to leverage both fibre and wireless technologies, encourage greater collaboration among operators, and embrace infrastructure-sharing models that reduce unnecessary duplication of investments,” Lala stated.

He stressed that competition within the industry should increasingly focus on service innovation, customer experience and quality of service rather than duplicating physical infrastructure.

The panel also examined broader structural challenges affecting broadband deployment across the country, including limited implementation of Right-of-Way reforms by state governments, multiple layers of taxation, security concerns, power costs, and regulatory complexities.

Also sharing his thoughts during the panel, Head of Converged Digital Infrastructure for Africa at Open Access Data Centres, Obinna Adumike, observed that Nigeria’s geography presented inherent connectivity challenges, noting that submarine cables land along coastal regions while extending connectivity inland required substantial additional investment.

Adumike reinforced the need for operators to embrace infrastructure sharing, noting that the model had already proven successful globally.

“We should not continue duplicating fibre infrastructure,” he said. “Open-access and shared infrastructure models make network expansion easier, reduce costs and improve access. This is not a new concept. The majority of submarine cable systems were built through joint ventures and shared investment models. Nigeria should adopt approaches that work for our local operating environment.”

Contributing to the discussion, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, called for the protection of telecommunications infrastructure and stronger consequences for its damage.

He emphasised the need to define equitable contribution structures for infrastructure-sharing models to ensure that early investors were not unfairly disadvantaged, while also advocating a review of Nigeria’s telecommunications tariff structure to better reflect regional cost differences.

The discussions underscored the importance of stronger collaboration among government, regulators, infrastructure providers and network operators to remove barriers to investment and improve broadband access nationwide.