The telecom sector has recorded total capital inflow or foreign direct investment (FDI) of $1.570 billion over the last three years.
A report by the Policy Competition and Economic Analysis Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicated that FDIs into the industry in 2020 was $417.48 million as against $942.86 million recorded in 2019.
This translated to a decline of 55.7per cent in capital importation year-on-year. The decline in capital importation was largely attributed by the operators to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that distorted global businesses and impacted businesses negatively.
In 2021, FDIs into the telecoms industry were $753.04 million against $417.48 million as at 2020 while in 2022, FDIs were $399.91 million as against $753.04 million in the previous year.
In terms of the sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), the report entitled: “Subscriber/Network Data Annual Report”, showed that it increased from 10.60 per cent in the fourth quarter 2019 to 12.45per cent in fourth quarter of 2020.
The sector’s contribution to GDP increased from 12.45 per cent in the fourth quarter 2020 to 12.61per cent in fourth quarter of 2021 while in 2022, it increased from 12.61per cent to 13.55per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022.
In the area of infrastructural development, the report noted that a substantial telecom infrastructure deployment was recorded in 2020 by telecom providers.
During the period under review, a total of 33,832 towers were recorded from mobile and fixed operators as well as collocation and infrastructure companies. The operators also reported a total number of 36,998 base stations.
Microwave coverage declined from 302,036km recorded in 2019 to 289,720.99Km as of 2020. This covers the mobile, fixed and other operators. Some operators recorded a decrease in the microwave coverage due to the decommissioning of backbone microwave links to accommodate increased and higher volumes of traffic.
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The mobile fixed and other operators recorded a total of 194 Gateways in use in the industry as at December 2020 while fiber optics deployment stood at 94,547.82km-terrestrial fiber and submarine cable, as at December 2020.
In 2021, a total of 35,136 towers were recorded from mobile and fixed operators as well as collocation and infrastructure companies. The operators also reported a total number of 114,412 base transceiver stations (BTS).
Microwave coverage recorded in 2021 stood at 290,940.69km. This covers the mobile and fixed operators; the mobile, fixed and other operators recorded a total number of 99 Gateways in use in the industry as at December 2021 while fiber optics deployment stood at 86,057km (terrestrial fibre and submarine cable) as at December 2021.
The following year, the report said a substantial telecom infrastructure deployment was also recorded by telecom providers.
A total of 34,862 towers were recorded from telecom operators across the country while the operators also reported a total number of 127,294 base stations.
Microwave coverage recorded in 2022 stood at 289,270.48km; a total number of 125 Gateways were in use in the telecom industry as at December 2022 while fibre optics deployment stood at 96,198 km (terrestrial fibre and submarine cable) in the same year.