Policy and Regulatory Framework for Fiber Optic Backbone in Abuja

ABSTRACT The purpose of this work is to make a contribution to the “Abuja grand design” by proposing a strategy that would facilitate making Abuja feature as a “modern city”. This proposal is entitled “Policy and Regulatory Framework for Fiber Optic Backbone in Abuja”. The main import of the strategy is to network every home and business in Abuja with fiber optics. The city fiber network would serve as a broadband communication medium to provide essentially unlimited and open communication capacity to all residences and businesses in Abuja and beyond. High-bandwidth broadband is widely recognized as a key driver of future economic competitiveness, and is also regarded as a **facilitator of political discourse and activity. A fiber networking strategy for municipal public services (education, public health, public safety, etc.) would not only spur up private-sector innovation and competition, but also place Abuja among the world class cities, with a potential to ranking among the “international information capitals”.