Evaluation of National Broadband Plan Implementation Progress and Gap Analysis in the South East Zone

Nigeria's National Broadband Plan targets 70% broadband penetration and 25 Mbps minimum broadband speed across the country, yet the pace of implementation varies significantly across geopolitical zones, with the South East requiring particular attention given its high population density and commercial importance. This study professionally evaluates the implementation progress of the National Broadband Plan in the South East geopolitical zone, covering Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, and identifies gaps between plan targets and current delivery. A professional policy evaluation methodology was employed, combining NCC broadband access data analysis, state-level infrastructure audit data from three network operators, and structured interviews with eight telecom industry stakeholders and two federal ministry officials. Broadband penetration in the South East zone was estimated at 41% as of 2024, representing a 29-percentage-point deficit against the 2025 target. Fixed broadband coverage was particularly deficient in Ebonyi State, where only two urban local government areas had any licensed fixed broadband service. Fiber backbone routes in the zone remained concentrated along the Enugu-Onitsha corridor, leaving significant eastern communities unserved. The fiber conduit incentive policy aimed at encouraging operators to deploy along federal highways had low uptake in the zone. Gap analysis identifies three priority intervention areas: federal highway fiber corridor extension, last-mile wireless broadband programs for secondary towns, and public school connectivity mandates. Keywords: broadband plan, South East Nigeria, implementation gap, broadband penetration, infrastructure.