In 2011, when Google agreed to connect with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), this led to a significant increase in the growth rate of local internet traffic in Nigeria, according to IXPN’s CEO, Muhammed Rudman.
Rudman provided this information in Lagos during an announcement about the achievement of a 1 Terabit per second national internet traffic benchmark in Nigeria. At the launch of IXPN in 2007, he noted that the initial level of local web traffic was quite low. However, Rudman highlighted that Google played a pivotal role starting in 2011 after connecting with IXPN; since then, the pace of increase for internal data flow surged from under 20 Megabits per second to 120 megabits per second, eventually hitting the 1 terabyte mark just four years later.
As stated by Rudman, Google partnered with IXPN in 2011, resulting in an uptick in internet traffic from under 20 Megabits per second to 120 Megabits per second. By 2012, this surged to 600 Megabits per second. Internet traffic continued to climb to 125 Gigabits per second in 2019, reaching 250 Gigabits per second in 2021. As of December 2024, Nigerian internet traffic had hit 900 Gigabits per second. Most recently, it achieved a significant landmark of 1 Terabit per second.
Rudman explained that before Google connected to IXPN, as a global content provider, domesticated internet traffic was at its lowest ebb. He however said as soon as Google connected to IXPN, other international content providers and access providers, operating in Nigeria, including local content and access providers, also connected to IXPN, a development, he said, gave boost to the rapid growth of domestic internet traffic in Nigeria.
At present, IXPN boasts more than 130 actively connected members. These include major players like Google, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, TikTok, Amazon, along with every Nigerian Mobile Network Operator (MNO). Additional entities also form part of this group.
Regarding the economic implications of managing local network traffic, Rudman stated: “When considering the economic effects, aside from utilizing online banking and similar services, we do not see substantial benefits since most of our data flow involves downloading rather than uploading. Therefore, our aim is to make sure that at least 80 percent of our web traffic remains within the country.”
When announcing the most recent achievement in Nigeria’s internal web usage, Rudman stated that this milestone represents significant progress in enhancing the country’s online framework. This development highlights the essential part played by indigenous internet facilities in fostering economic expansion, encouraging new ideas, and connecting countless Nigerian citizens.
“This achievement goes beyond being merely a numerical figure; it stands as a testament to Nigeria’s progress toward digital sophistication and collective efforts aimed at transforming into a technology-powered nation. By maintaining internal internet flow within the borders of Nigeria, we can decrease expenses, enhance connection speed, and guarantee that our digital market flourishes through indigenous technological frameworks. Reaching 1 terabit per second marks a substantial triumph for Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology sector, representing a major leap forward in managing national web traffic internally. This accomplishment acts as an accelerator, allowing countless Nigerian citizens to benefit from quicker, cost-effective, and robust online access. Such milestones redefine possibilities for one of Africa’s most heavily populated nations,” remarked Rudman.
He stated that at a speed of 1 Tbps, over one million simultaneous Zoom calls could be supported for mega video conferences. This would allow students, business owners, and professionals to stay connected and contribute to Nigeria’s digital transformation. Additionally, he mentioned that this bandwidth could facilitate up to 200,000 individuals streaming high-definition content from Nollywood or Netflix concurrently without experiencing lag or pauses. According to Rudman, such speeds would also permit the instantaneous transmission of all data contained within 50,000
In merely a single second, smartphones can handle tasks like taking photos, downloading apps, and playing videos.
For Nigeria, achieving this landmark involves cutting back on dependence on foreign bandwidth, lowering delays for domestic services, and reinforcing our role as the heart of digital activity in Africa. This achievement highlights the strength derived from working together, embracing new ideas, and persistently striving for a quicker, better-connected Nigeria,” Rudman added.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
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