Nigeria Urged to Boost Broadband Development and Support Data Centres for Digital Sovereignty
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has highlighted the importance of broadband development and support for data centres in order to enhance digital sovereignty in Nigeria. During the recent Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, emphasized the need for collective efforts to mainstream data centres and ensure that they uphold national digital sovereignty.
According to Danbatta, data centres play a crucial role in the ICT sector and the overall economies of countries. He cited recent developments where Africa has become an attracting destination for global tech giants, such as Google and Meta (parent company of Facebook), who have invested in subsea fibre cables connecting multiple African countries. These investments are expected to significantly increase connectivity and generate economic output.
While acknowledging the socio-economic impacts of these investments, Danbatta also raised concerns about the need for digital sovereignty. He emphasized the importance of national policy and regulatory frameworks to localize traffic and data, allowing countries like Nigeria to make the most of the opportunities created by the growing digital economy.
Danbatta further noted that Nigeria is well-positioned to attract investments in data centres. With the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the shared resources it offers, Nigeria can provide a reliable and secure environment for data centre services. This, in turn, will foster economic growth and productivity.
Bukola Olanrewaju, the managing editor of Business Remarks, highlighted the crucial role data centres play in the digital age. She emphasized that data centres are the foundation of the digital world, driving economic growth, environmental sustainability, and data security. Currently, there are only a limited number of data centres in Africa, with the majority located in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya. Olanrewaju further mentioned the growth potential of the global data centre market, which is expected to reach $517.17 billion by 2030.
In addition to focusing on data centres, the NCC has also advocated for harnessing the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa. Understanding the importance of transitioning to a new digital age, the NCC believes that AI integration can contribute to refined digital economic growth.
In conclusion, Nigeria is being urged to prioritize broadband development and support data centres to boost digital sovereignty. With a well-nurtured policy and regulatory framework, the country has the potential to attract investments and become a key player in the global data centre market. By embracing these opportunities, Nigeria can enhance its digital economy and contribute to overall economic growth within the AfCFTA bloc.
Note: This news article has been crafted by OpenAI’s language model.
