Special Report: NCC’s role in fibre technology deployment for Broadband services, digital future

*The Nigerian Communications Commission highlights its strategic role in fibre optic deployment in the entire communications industry, reaffirming fibre technology is ‘the essential backbone’ for high-speed Internet, Broadband services, and emerging digital economy in the West African country

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In underlining the strategic importance of the vital information cum communication infrastructure, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed fibre optic technology as “the essential backbone” for high-speed Internet, Broadband services, and emerging digital economy in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports the NCC, which regulates and promotes the use of optic fibre technology in the West African country’s digital ecosystem, recently disclosed the involvement of the telecoms regulatory Commission is predominantly “driven by national policies like the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), aiming to ensure pervasive and affordable broadband access across the country.”

Significance of optic fibre technology in Nigeria

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission the fibre optic technology is fundamental to Nigeria’s digital future, as the communication infrastructure enables high-speed connectivity.

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According to NCC, it provides the necessary “high-capacity backhaul” to deliver ultra-fast 4G and 5G speeds, essential for low latency and seamless data transmission.

The NCC, in a recent post on its corporate Web site, acknowledged that unlike the traditional copper cables, fibre technology “provides extremely high bandwidth, faster data transmission, and low latency (fewer delays in file transfers).”

It said: “This makes it very useful for carrying out businesses, education, banking, healthcare operations, and other human endeavours.”

The NCC also noted the technology enhances economic growth.

High-speed Broadband connectivity, the Commission noted, delivered through fibre technology is a key driver for economic growth, technological innovation, and national development.

In terms of emerging technologies, it is noted that fibre networks provide the robust platform required for new and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and e-governance services in the digital economy.

The deployment of the fibre optic infrastructure as well enhances Quality of Service (QoS).

The shift from conventional copper cables to fibre optics is driven by the demand for faster, stronger, and more far-reaching digital Internet connectivity, which improves overall quality of service for consumers.

Through these initiatives, the NCC aims to create a regulatory environment that enables licensees to deliver available, accessible, and affordable Broadband services nationwide.

NCC’s core role in fibre optic deployment in ecosystem

Highlighting its essential role in fibre optic deployment in the digital economy, the Commission licenses framework.

The NCC has established a licensing framework, including the Metropolitan Fibre Cable Network (MFCN) licence, to authorise companies (known as Infrastructure Companies or InfraCos).

These InfraCos are to deploy, maintain, and operate fibre optic transmission facilities on an open access, non-discriminatory basis across the country’s six geopolitical zones and Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria.

The NCC further actively drives and supports the rollout of fibre infrastructure to every Local Government Area (LGA).

The goal, the industry regulator stressed, is to bridge the gap between existing fibre capacity at landing points (from submarine cables) and the last-mile connectivity needed for consumers.

The Commission equally formulates regulation and administers policy advocacy for fibre technology deployment in the country.

The NCC as well works with various levels of government to streamline the important Right of Way (RoW) issues, harmonise tax regimes, and facilitate the speed of processing permits for infrastructure deployment.

Fibre optic technology as part of CNII

Besides, the Commission as part of its consumer education and sensitisation programmes and initiatives, has intensified efforts at enlightening Nigerians on the urgent need to protect the country’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), including the optic fibre cables.

It maintained the deployment of fibre-optic technology in the telecoms space, and the entire emerging Nigeria Digital Economy, could guarantee stable mobile network quality (QoS) while it promotes consumers’ Quality of Experience (QoE).

It is recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, June last year, officially gazetted the “Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024, which also includes optic fibre infrastructure as one of Nigeria’s prime communications assets.

It, therefore, advocates Nigerians’ considering fibre optic infrastructure as a Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) to safeguard it from damage.

As a measure to tackling fibre cuts the NCC has said due to significant service disruptions caused by accidental fibre cuts (often during road construction), it has continued to collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Works, other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and telecoms industry stakeholders to establish a Joint Standing Committee for the protection of fibre optic cables in Nigeria.

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