Stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure industry have called for improved regulation to support the sector’s growth, forecasting that internet traffic in the country could increase by 1000% in the next five years.

Speaking at the Nigerian Peering and Interconnection Forum, a panel of experts comprising Olawale Owoeye, Managing Director, Cedarview Communications; Dr. Ibiso Kingsley-George, Assistant Director, Nigerian Communications Commission; Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa at Africa Data Centres and Muhammed Rudman, CEO, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) projected that Nigeria’s internet growth could reach 1000% in the next five years, if the government creates an enabling environment for the industry.

The panelists highlighted the need for harmonized taxes, protection of critical infrastructure, and access to foreign exchange for the industry to thrive. They also noted that Nigeria is currently using less than 10% of its available internet submarine capacity due to middle-mile and last-mile challenges.

The CEO of Open Access Data Centers, Dr. Tunde Coker, argued that the digital infrastructure industry needs to come together and table their issues to the regulator to ensure that the enabling environment is created and the industry’s specific needs are met.

Nigeria has a broadband penetration target of 70% by 2025, but currently has about 45% penetration, with 98% of this from mobile operators. Broadband handicaps are due to limited infrastructure coverage in Nigeria, where digital infrastructure is prevalent in limited areas, in capital cities, such as Lagos, Abuja and a few others.