Facing intense competition, Nigeria's Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are calling for decisive policy interventions from the government to help them extend reliable internet services to the nation's unserved and underserved communities.
Growth Driven by Demand, Hindered by Costs
Kenny Joda, Head of Regulatory & Public Relations at FibreOne, highlighted this need in a recent discussion. He pointed out that while the ISP sub-sector experienced a 9.8% growth in subscriptions between December 2024 and the second quarter of 2025, this expansion is primarily concentrated in areas already served. The surge, he noted, is fueled by the rising necessity of stable home broadband for hybrid work, online education, e-commerce, and entertainment.
Joda acknowledged that major players, including FibreOne, have actively expanded their fibre networks, upgraded resilience, and improved service delivery in multiple cities. However, he stressed that reaching new, often less profitable areas requires targeted support to be viable for operators.
Critical Challenges: Infrastructure and Skilled Labour
The industry faces significant headwinds that threaten sustainability. Out of 224 ISPs registered with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), only 133 were active as of Q2 2025. Joda identified the high cost of operations—covering bandwidth, diesel, security, and maintenance—as a heavy burden, especially for smaller companies.
A paramount issue is infrastructure vulnerability. Fibre cuts, vandalism, and construction-related damages frequently disrupt services and inflate operational costs. Despite the Federal Government's Project BRIDGE classifying fibre as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), enforcement of these protections needs strengthening, according to Joda.
Furthermore, the sector is grappling with a significant shortage of skilled technical personnel. This gap prompted FibreOne to establish the FibreOne Technical Academy (FOTA) to cultivate homegrown talent.
Call for Action and Clear Frameworks
Joda outlined specific measures for the government and regulators to foster growth. He called for enhanced enforcement of CNI protections with stricter penalties for vandalism. Deepening support for last-mile expansion in underserved communities through Project BRIDGE is also crucial.
He advocated for continued strong stakeholder engagement and the introduction of clear, ISP-specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that reflect the practical realities of operations. These frameworks would improve planning and industry stability.
"There are no major regulatory uncertainties at this time," Joda clarified. "The industry only needs regulatory bodies to continue the strong stakeholder engagements they have already started and introduce clear SLAs that reflect the realities of ISP operations."
