Nigeria, Burkina Faso Plan Fibre Links to Cut Internet Costs by 50%

Nigeria and Burkina Faso have begun moves to establish new cross-border fibre links that could reduce internet connectivity costs in Burkina Faso by as much as 50 per cent.

The proposed routes are expected to provide Burkina Faso with cheaper and more resilient access to international internet infrastructure while positioning Nigeria’s expanding fibre network as a potential digital gateway to the West African and Sahel regions.

Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, disclosed the plan after discussions with Burkina Faso’s Minister for Digital Transition, Posts and Communication, Aminata Zerbo-Sabané, in Ouagadougou.

The two countries are considering two connectivity corridors: Nigeria–Niger–Burkina Faso and Nigeria–Benin–Burkina Faso.

Tijani said a Technical Working Committee would be established to assess the routes and develop an implementation framework for the proposed partnership.

“Beyond delivering faster, more affordable and resilient internet for Nigerians, our teams will also model connectivity routes through Nigeria–Niger–Burkina Faso and Nigeria–Benin–Burkina Faso,” Tijani said.

He said the exercise would seek to identify a pathway capable of reducing the cost of internet connectivity in Burkina Faso by up to 50 percent.

The proposed 50 percent reduction is not yet an achieved saving, as the routes are still being assessed and the implementation framework has yet to be developed.

The initiative builds on Nigeria’s Project BRIDGE, the government’s programme to expand open-access fibre infrastructure across the country.

Project BRIDGE is targeting about 90,000 kilometres of fibre across Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and 774 local government areas. The infrastructure is expected to provide high-capacity broadband connectivity for telecommunications operators, internet service providers and other users.

Tijani said the broader objective was to leverage Nigeria’s growing digital infrastructure and capabilities to deepen regional economic integration and position the country as a trusted digital gateway to West Africa and the Sahel.

The engagement is part of Nigeria’s wider digital cooperation with neighbouring countries, with further engagements planned with Niger and Chad following its recent discussions with Benin Republic.