Nigeria to offer free internet in public places
Public-private partnerships will be encouraged to enhance service delivery, with additional services available for a fee.
The House of Representatives has introduced a significant bill to provide free internet services in selected public places throughout Nigeria. The initiative highlights the critical role of information and communications technology (ICT) in nation-building and seeks to bridge the digital divide by enhancing connectivity in essential sectors like education and healthcare.
The proposed law outlines various locations eligible for free internet access, including government offices, secondary and tertiary institutions, public hospitals, military barracks, libraries, parks, and transport terminals. Users will not be charged for connecting to these public internet access points, separate from backend services used in government operations. To ensure quality, the bill mandates a minimum internet speed of two megabytes per second per user, aligning with the National Broadband Plan.
To facilitate the effective implementation of the bill, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will oversee the rollout and set standards for public locations included in the initiative. They are required to develop a comprehensive implementation plan within one year of the law’s commencement, collaborating with federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector entities.
The legislation encourages public-private partnerships to enhance service delivery, allowing private partners to offer supplemental internet services for a fee. Additionally, it promotes cost reduction by encouraging private service providers to exchange data tariffs through designated domestic internet protocol exchanges, ultimately improving access for users in areas where the programme is implemented.