Telecom stakeholders are calling on the Nigerian government to adopt a national Dig-Once policy to curb persistent fibre cuts that disrupt network performance and increase operating costs.
The fragmented approach to infrastructure deployment is currently hindering the country’s digital economy goals, according to speakers at the eighth Policy Implementation Assisted Forum in Lagos.
The proposed policy would require fibre ducts to be deployed alongside roads, rail lines and other public projects.
This framework is essential for the success of Project BRIDGE (Broadband Infrastructure Development and Gaps Engagement), a $2 billion initiative aimed at deploying 90 000km of fibre optic cable across Nigeria, says Tony Emoekpere, president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
Implementation remains the country’s primary challenge rather than policy formulation, says Emoekpere. Repeated road excavations by contractors and operators continue to damage existing infrastructure, which industry data shows accounts for approximately 60% of fibre-related network outages.
While more than 35 000km of fibre has been deployed nationwide, only 16% of Nigerians are connected to the infrastructure. Broadband penetration currently stands at 45%.
The Dig-Once strategy would enable operators to share ducts instead of repeatedly excavating the same routes, says Emoekpere.
At the forum, Huawei demonstrated an AI-powered fibre sensing system designed to detect cable cuts in real time. The technology uses AI and live monitoring to identify fault locations, which reduces downtime and improves network reliability, the company says.
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