{
  "id": 12508148,
  "title": "INFRASTRUCTURE AND TELECOMS INVESTMENTS",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/infrastructure-and-telecoms-investments",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-07T00:29:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/07/infrastructure-and-telecoms-investments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sonny Aragba-Akpoore argues for increased investment in Nigerian infrastructure and telecommunications, particularly to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved areas. Currently, there is a shortfall of between 30,000 and 40,000 telecommunications towers, with only 40,000 existing out of the required 70,000 to 80,000. This gap presents an opportunity for investors. The telecoms towers host 145,141 base equipment units across the country. However, the existing infrastructure faces challenges as data consumption has surged, with a rise from 1.13 terabytes to 1.66 terabytes in 2025, accounting for about 47% of the traffic. This increase has put immense pressure on the networks, prompting the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to call on investors to step in and alleviate the burden.\n\nThe Digital Infrastructure Investment Forum, recently held in Abuja, aimed to facilitate dialogue among regulators, investors, infrastructure providers, and development partners to address the investment requirements for expanding connectivity and tackling barriers to deployment. The forum saw over $76 billion in cumulative investments in the sector since liberalization in 2001. In 2025, capital expenditure stood at N2.13 trillion, with projections for 2026 ranging from N1.8 trillion to N1.86 trillion, primarily for network expansion. However, foreign investments dropped by 91% in Q1 2026, highlighting a reliance on domestic reinvestment from major players like MTN and Airtel.\n\nExecutive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized that the investment challenge is not just about expanding coverage but ensuring better service quality and infrastructure capable of supporting future technologies. He outlined measures already taken, including the telecommunications tariff adjustment in 2025, engagement with state governments on Right of Way issues, and designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These initiatives aim to reduce barriers to network deployment and boost investor confidence.\n\nDr. Maida commended Swedfund and Ookla for their strategic partnership in hosting the forum, which provided independent insights into consumer connectivity experiences and supported efforts to deepen data-driven decision-making. The forum brought together various stakeholders, including government, investors, development finance institutions, operators, infrastructure providers, technology companies, and development partners. Nigeria's internet usage has surged, with data consumption increasing from about 518,000 terabytes in January 2023 to over 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, exceeding the 2025 level by 47%. Despite progress in expanding digital infrastructure, determining where infrastructure is most needed and where demand is growing remains a challenge. The Forum aimed to provide clarity on these aspects to facilitate informed investments and support Nigeria's goal of building a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.",
  "summary": "SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE argues for more investment in infrastructure To achieve a robust telecommunications connectivity and take service to unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria, between 70,000 and 80,000",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}