By Juliet Umeh
Nigeria’s drive toward digital healthcare and data-driven medical services is set to gain fresh momentum following the Nigerian Communications Commission’s, NCC, approval of six new Internet Service Providers, ISPs, to operate from January 1, 2026.
The approvals increase the total number of licensed ISPs in the country to 231, up from 225 in December 2025, underscoring the growing recognition that reliable, high-speed internet connectivity is no longer optional but foundational to modern healthcare delivery, telemedicine, and health data management.
The newly licensed operators, Intellivision Technologies Limited, Granet Technologies Limited, Fibre Sonic Limited, Dasol Solution Services Limited, Boost ISP Limited, and Amazon Kuiper Nigeria Limited, enter a market that is rapidly evolving beyond traditional consumer internet use. Today, broadband underpins electronic medical records, remote diagnostics, digital laboratories, health insurance platforms, and emerging AI-powered clinical tools.
However, industry data suggests that connectivity remains uneven, with most ISPs concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. This geographic imbalance continues to pose challenges for digital health deployment, particularly in rural and underserved communities where healthcare access is already limited and terrestrial broadband infrastructure remains scarce.
High right-of-way charges, security concerns, and the capital-intensive nature of network rollout have discouraged deeper nationwide expansion. For health-tech providers, this means that the promise of telemedicine and remote care remains constrained by infrastructure gaps rather than technology limitations.
The growing dominance of mobile network operators—MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile—has also reshaped how healthcare platforms access connectivity. While mobile data offers flexibility and reach, fixed broadband remains critical for hospitals, diagnostic centres, and data-heavy health systems that require stability, speed, and low latency.
Satellite broadband is increasingly being viewed as a potential bridge for healthcare access in hard-to-reach areas. Starlink’s rapid expansion since its 2023 entry into Nigeria has already changed consumer behaviour, and the licensing of Amazon Kuiper Nigeria Limited is expected to further accelerate satellite-based connectivity options. For health facilities in remote locations, satellite internet could enable real-time consultations, cloud-based patient records, and emergency response coordination.
According to the Executive Director, Business Development at Broadbased Communications Ltd., Chidi Ibisi, smaller ISPs face structural disadvantages in a market dominated by well-capitalised players. “You cannot fight the big players; that is the reality. What we are asking for is a way to work harmoniously, where everyone gets a piece of the pie,” he said, noting that scale and investment capacity often determine outcomes.
Others argue that innovation within the ISP sector will be essential to supporting specialised needs such as healthcare connectivity. Kehinde Joda, Head of Regulatory and Public Relations at FibreOne, said many ISPs still operate narrow business models focused solely on access provision. He noted that future growth will depend on service differentiation, reliability, and sector-specific solutions, including tailored connectivity for hospitals and digital health platforms.
Recent NCC figures highlight increasing concentration in the ISP market. Data for the second quarter of 2025 shows that Spectranet, Starlink, and FibreOne accounted for approximately 65 per cent of all active ISP subscribers. Total subscribers stood at 313,713, raising concerns about resilience, redundancy, and service continuity for critical sectors such as healthcare.
As Nigeria accelerates investments in digital public infrastructure and health innovation, analysts say the intersection of broadband policy and healthcare delivery will become increasingly important. The NCC’s latest licensing decisions may therefore play a quiet but crucial role in shaping how effectively digital health services reach patients across the country—particularly in communities where access to care depends on connectivity.
