Nigeria’s $2 Billion Fibre Project: A Lifeline for Internet Providers
Nigeria is embarking on an unprecedented digital infrastructure initiative, set to commence in late 2025, with the construction of a 90,000-kilometre national fibre optic network. Dubbed “Project Bridge,” this ambitious multi-billion dollar undertaking is designed to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s internet landscape by dismantling the near-monopoly held by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) over broadband infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to empower struggling Internet Service Providers (ISPs), offering them a genuine opportunity to compete effectively in a market that has long favoured larger players. This nationwide fibre backbone promises to be a game-changer, fostering a more equitable and competitive digital ecosystem across the West African nation.
Project Bridge: Enhancing Competition and Accessibility
Unveiled on August 7, 2025, by the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, at a stakeholder forum in Abuja co-hosted with the Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), Project Bridge has garnered significant governmental support. A crucial breakthrough for its deployment has been the commitment from 11 state governors to waive right-of-way fees. These fees have historically been a major impediment to large-scale fibre optic rollouts in Nigeria, making the governors’ agreement a vital step forward. Minister Tijani highlighted the project’s design, stating, “Project Bridge is designed to serve both large and small ISPs through scalable access across core, metropolitan, and middle-mile network layers.” This layered approach aims to provide comprehensive and accessible infrastructure, ensuring that ISPs of all sizes can leverage the network to deliver improved services to consumers nationwide, thereby fostering robust competition and enabling greater digital inclusion.
This monumental fibre project signifies Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to enhancing its digital economy. By providing a common, open-access infrastructure, Project Bridge is poised to drive down the cost of internet services, improve reliability, and spur innovation among local ISPs. The increased competition stemming from this initiative is expected to directly benefit Nigerian citizens and businesses through more affordable and higher-quality internet access, ultimately accelerating the nation’s digital transformation journey.
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