The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has identified the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE as the definitive turning point for the nation’s digital economy in 2026. After a resilient 2025, which saw data consumption hit a record 1.24 million terabytes in November. The industry is now looking to massive fibre expansion to sustain its momentum.
Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth) is a $2 billion initiative designed to solve Nigeria’s backbone infrastructure deficit. Led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the project aims to transform the country’s digital landscape.
The initiative will boost Nigeria’s existing 35,000km of fibre to a total of 125,000km through massive network expansion. This project is designed to provide high-speed internet to all 774 local government headquarters, as well as various schools and health facilities. These efforts are intended to drive the country toward a 70% broadband penetration target by 2027. The full-scale rollout for the project is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026.
ATCON President Tony Emoekpere emphasizes that the industry’s confidence was restored in 2025 by the government’s clarity and the designation of telecom assets as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). This designation ensures that telecom investments are treated as national security priorities.
For 2026, ATCON expects three major shifts:
- Lower Entry Barriers: An “open-access” fibre foundation will reduce deployment bottlenecks and lower costs for operators.
- Investment Incentives: Better alignment between federal and state governments on Right-of-Way (RoW) charges is expected to unlock stalled private capital.
- Service Quality: Accelerated last-mile expansion will improve connectivity in previously underserved and unserved rural areas.
The project is bolstered by a $500 million World Bank loan, released in tranches through 2031, contingent on meeting strict performance milestones.
| Year | World Bank Funding Tranche | Key Milestone |
| 2026 | $6 Million | Q1 Rollout Start & Route Surveys |
| 2027 | $155 Million | Peak Infrastructure Deployment |
| 2028-30 | $105M – $115M (Annual) | Nationwide Network Integration |
NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa noted that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has already received presidential approval to drive the rollout, ensuring that the initiative remains focused on equitable digital access.
As the sector shifts into the execution phase, ATCON believes Project BRIDGE will empower the next wave of Fintech, cloud adoption, and digital entrepreneurship. By treating telecom assets as national development priorities, Nigeria is positioning itself to lead Africa’s digital transformation.