Study of Telemedicine Network Requirements and Connectivity Challenges in Niger State

Telemedicine offers a promising approach to bridging the healthcare access gap in underserved regions of Nigeria by enabling remote medical consultations, diagnostic support, and patient monitoring over telecommunications networks. This study examines the telecommunications network requirements for effective telemedicine delivery and documents the connectivity challenges faced by healthcare facilities in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. A mixed-methods design was adopted, with structured interviews conducted at twenty primary and secondary healthcare facilities across Minna, Bida, and Suleja local government areas, supplemented by network quality measurements at facility sites. Requirements analysis was based on WHO telemedicine technical standards and NCC broadband service classifications. Findings reveal that 65% of surveyed healthcare facilities had no fixed broadband connectivity, relying exclusively on mobile data where available. Among facilities with mobile data access, average download speeds of 3.1 Mbps were recorded, insufficient for video consultation, which requires a minimum of 5 Mbps for acceptable quality. Healthcare providers identified unreliable network connectivity as the most critical barrier to telemedicine adoption. Facilities in Lavun and Rijau LGAs had no functional internet connectivity whatsoever. The study recommends priority broadband deployment to primary healthcare centers under the Universal Service Provision Fund, adoption of store-and-forward telemedicine protocols for low-bandwidth environments, and development of a state-level telemedicine infrastructure implementation plan for Niger State. Keywords: telemedicine, connectivity, Niger State, broadband, healthcare access.