There are high expectations over a global partnership deal partnership agreement between Nigeria’s pioneering and leading information, communications and technology (ICT) company, ipNX with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop Nigeria’s ICT and broadband infrastructure. The partnership, which is a result of several engagements between a USTDA delegation to Nigeria and the leadership of ipNX, was signed at a virtual ceremony on Thursday September 17, 2020.

According to the terms of the partnership, Nigerians are likely to benefit on different fronts. First, it will address the substantially underdeveloped ICT infrastructure in Nigeria, bringing significant improvements to broadband access and speed to the last-mile. This will allow internet users to access internet services at significantly higher speeds than they presently experience.

According to the Group Managing Director of ipNX, Ejovi Aror, the ipNX and USTDA partnership will drive the expansion of ipNX fibre footprint across Nigeria leading to the digital transformation and socio-economic development of major cities in Nigeria. The new partnership will allow more and more businesses to embrace new technologies that enhance corporate efficiencies such as the internet of things or cloud computing.

According to the World Bank, the fixed broadband penetration in Nigeria households was 0.04% at the end of 2018, below the African regional average (0.6%), and the world average (13.6%). The new partnership is expected to boost high-speed Internet connectivity that will help businesses to operate faster and also boost digital innovations crippled by low internet penetration.

In 2016, the global digital economy was worth about $11.5 trillion, equivalent to 15.5% of the world’s overall GDP. It is expected to reach 25% in less than a decade, the World Bank said, quickly outpacing the growth of the overall economy. For Nigeria not to be left behind and harness this growth like the rest of the world, the ipNX and USTDA partnership is providing better broadband infrastructure that will develop digital entrepreneurship in Nigeria and link individuals with markets in Nigeria and across the world.

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