Project Accelerator: Digital infrastructure for more equitable connectivity
Introduction
With 225 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the largest country in Africa in terms of population. The country is also one of Africa’s largest digital markets, with over 190 million mobile subscribers and rapidly growing use of smartphones and digital services. Despite this progress, around 40 million people still lack access to basic telecommunications services such as mobile telephony, broadband and data networks. The growing gap between urban and rural areas is exacerbated when investment is mainly directed towards cities, which risks reinforcing digital inequality and limiting opportunities for inclusive economic development.
A sector undergoing rapid but uneven change
The Nigerian mobile market is dominated by older GSM services (2G), but the availability of 4G and 5G is increasing, especially in larger cities. However, large sections of the population are limited to low-performing services and insufficient or no coverage. There is a significant discrepancy between the digital progress in urban areas and the limited connectivity in sparsely populated areas.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) intends to increase access to high-quality and affordable telecom services across the country. The NCC has the task of creating the right conditions for competition, improving service quality and ensuring that public funds are used efficiently.
Despite these ambitions, obstacles still remain. The investment required to expand network infrastructure in sparsely populated areas is hampered by insufficient commercial incentives. There are also risks associated with transparency, accountability and the complex relationships between public and private actors. To meet the growing demand, it is estimated that around 80,000 new telecommunications towers will need to be built in rural areas, a significant challenge both financially and technically.
Swedfund’s efforts create the conditions for reaching more people
Swedfund is working with the NCC to strengthen digital infrastructure in areas that currently have insufficient or no coverage. The project maps user experience and network performance by collecting and processing real-time data on network performance from open sources ('Crowdsourcing Quality of Experience'). This analysis provides a clear picture of where the needs are greatest and consequently which investments can have the greatest impact in reaching more people.
The project provides the NCC and other decision-makers with a technical framework for prioritising resources, designing relevant policies and improving the monitoring of operators. Greater transparency improves competition and better enables public funds to be directed to areas where they are needed most. It also creates a more predictable investment climate for private actors, including Swedish suppliers such as Ericsson.
The initiative is being implemented in close dialogue with relevant authorities and operators in the sector, including the Swedish Embassy in Abuja and the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS). The collaboration creates opportunities for knowledge sharing on regulation, digital development and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Digital infrastructure as a driving force for inclusive development
An expanded and well-functioning mobile network in Nigeria has the potential to create significant social impact. Access to stable connectivity is a prerequisite for increasing digitalisation in education, healthcare, financial services and public services. For the private sector, better digital infrastructure means more opportunities to reach customers, streamline operations and create new jobs. A more robust digital ecosystem also enhances the innovative capacity of the country.
By identifying cost-effective solutions to improve grid performance in previously unreachable areas, the project helps to make investments financially viable. This enables targeted investment where the benefit to society is greatest. The project also contributes to the conditions required for a more sustainable expansion of grid infrastructure where alternative energy solutions, such as the use of renewable energy to operate base stations in areas without a reliable electricity supply, can be incorporated as part of the planning.
Towards a more inclusive digital future
By strengthening the NCC’s capacity to analyse needs and prioritise investment in regions with lower connectivity, Swedfund’s Project Accelerator can help reduce the digital divide in Nigeria. This lays the foundation for more inclusive and sustainable development in the long term, where more people have access to the digital tools needed for education, economic opportunities and financial services.
The project shows how data-driven analytics, greater transparency and efficient resource allocation can support the development of a more robust and equitable digital infrastructure, thereby helping to strengthen Nigeria’s long-term development.