Nigeria aims for 70 pct broadband penetration by 2025: minister-Xinhua

Nigeria aims for 70 pct broadband penetration by 2025: minister

Source: Xinhua| 2022-06-13 23:20:00|Editor: huaxia

LAGOS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government targets achieving 70 percent broadband penetration by 2025, said Isah Pantami, the country's minister of communications and digital economy, on Monday.

Speaking at a telecommunication conference in Abuja, the nation's capital, the minister said broadband was the backbone of a digital economy.

Pantami said as of the first quarter of 2022, broadband penetration stood at 42.27 percent in the country, and the government will consider areas for improvement in order to not only meet but exceed the 70 percent broadband penetration target by 2025.

"We are all aware that broadband supports the development of the digital economy, and a focus on growing the national digital economy will also improve and diversify the nation's traditional economy," he said.

He said industry experts had identified that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration would increase the Gross Domestic Product of an economy by between 1.6 percent and 4.6 percent.

Pantami said the government is dealing with some of the challenges of broadband penetration, including multiple taxation and regulation, and difficulty in obtaining approvals and permits.

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