West Africa accelerates fiber broadband and digital infrastructure growth

West Africa is experiencing a significant surge in fiber broadband expansion and digital infrastructure investment. According to Ookla data, Nigeria has seen the most consistent improvement in fixed broadband performance, with median download speeds rising 155% from 13.50 Mbps in 2023 to 34.47 Mbps in the first half of 2026, driven by a tripling of fiber-to-the-premises connections.

In Côte d’Ivoire, median download speeds reached 60.99 Mbps in the first half of 2026, leading the studied West African markets. Senegal is also showing maturity in its fiber market, with Sonatel aiming for nearly 2 million fiber ports by 2028. Other notable growth is occurring in Ghana and Nigeria, which remain key hubs for regional data and connectivity.

To further bolster its digital economy, Nigeria has launched a National Digital Cloud Policy seeking $750 million in private investment over 24 months to establish the country as a regional cloud computing hub. Additionally, Nigeria is exploring new fiber routes through Niger and Benin to potentially reduce internet costs in landlocked Burkina Faso by up to 50 percent.

In East Africa, Kenya is actively seeking partnerships with Chinese firms like Guodong Network Communication Group to modernize its telecommunications networks, expand 5G deployment, and support smart city initiatives such as Konza Technopolis.