The Nigeria Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, has observed that reliable and affordable internet access remains a challenge for many Nigerians.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Engr. Jane Egerton-Idehen disclosed this while delivering the 20th Herbert Macaulay Memorial lecture and Symposium put together by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Faculty of Engineering.
In the lecture entitled “Championing Innovation: Digital Transformation and Economic Diversification in Nigeria”, the NIGCOMSAT boss stressed that affordable internet access remained a challenge to many Nigerians particularly those in rural areas.
She noted that as part of the National Broadband Plan, his office is expected to provide coverage for at least 80% of the population, especially the underserved and unserved populations, by the end of 2027.
The NIGCOMSAT managing director also stated that the goal was to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61% to less than 20% by 2027.
She stressed that infrastructure to deliver digital transformation goes beyond broadband networks of internet connectivity.
While noting that Nigeria is known to have over six submarine fibre cables landing its coastal shores, Engr. Egerton-Idehen maintained that very few homes were connected to fibre, with the massive bandwidths provided by fibre yet to get to the last mile.
