Nigeria's government has approved a policy that seeks to speed up broadband rollout and balance the costs incurred by telcos looking to secure right of way for fibre optic cable infrastructure.

Following a recent National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, Nigeria's communication minister Adebayo Shittu said, "Just like the telecommunication masts which were harmonised after long years of defacing the environment, the government wants to do the same for the laying of fibre optic cables which is becoming a burden on the Nigerian roads."

The minister underlined the policy's intention to promote colocation among companies seeking to lay fibre optic cables, and its objective to minimise spaces occupied by these cables.

Driving broadband rollout

Senators have also committed to help boost the country's broadband penetration, which according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is said to be at 21%

The Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime has committed to to quicken the licensing of the second phase of infrastructure companies that will drive the rollout in various parts of the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, said the delay in licensing infrastructure companies and the deployment of network infrastructure after licensing, pose major threats to the achievement of the nations' technology goals.

"The Senate would do all it could within its powers to facilitate ICT/broadband development and give legal substance to ICT policies including the National Broadband Plan and the Cybercrime Act," Abdulfatai said.