Nigeria plans telecom towers to reach rural residents
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The federal government of Nigeria will deploy 1,989 telecom towers across 436 local government areas to expand network coverage to underserved rural communities.
The project, managed under the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP), aims to connect 7.05 million people currently lacking reliable access to mobile networks and the internet. The government recognizes that building single towers in rural areas is not financially viable for mobile network operators, making this a critical intervention.
The initial phase of the 3,700-tower project will begin in Abia State, with Benue State receiving the most towers at 179. Each local government area targeted will receive an average of 4.6 towers, connecting approximately 1.1 rural settlements per tower. Residents will be within 4 kilometers of a tower, with settlements averaging 350 meters apart. To ensure consistent power for the towers, the government will install 12,051 kilowatt-peak of solar power capacity.
This expansion intends to provide farmers with access to digital tools like market prices and weather forecasts, and to improve security communications for agencies operating in these areas. Officials expect the project to position Nigeria as a leader in digital inclusion within West Africa.
