Nigeria has ascended to second place in the Africa Domain Name Industry, according to the latest study commissioned by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in collaboration with PowerSoft Africa. This notable achievement is a testament to the country’s growing digital infrastructure and commitment to enhancing its internet ecosystem.
The study, part of the African country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) report, reveals a total of 4.33 million ccTLD registrations across the continent as of November 2023. Additionally, African entities have registered 1.4 million generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). These figures highlight the increasing digital engagement and the rising importance of domain names in Africa’s internet landscape.
The ICANN report, released by the Coalition for Digital Africa during the ICANN80 meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, covers 54 countries across the continent. Despite the promising growth in domain registrations, the report underscores that high internet access costs continue to be a significant barrier to widespread usage. On average, an African spends about four percent of their monthly income on 1GB of data. This is double the global affordability target set by the United Nations, which aims for 1GB of data to cost no more than two percent of monthly income. The high cost of internet access is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to ensure broader digital inclusion.
Moreover, the report projects an average annual growth rate of 12.4 percent in the number of domain names across Africa. This indicates substantial opportunities for local internet service providers and domain registrars in various countries. The growth potential reflects a burgeoning market that, if properly harnessed, can significantly contribute to the continent’s digital economy.
On the infrastructure front, the report highlights that over 1.1 million kilometers of terrestrial and submarine fiber optic cables crisscross the continent. This extensive network is crucial for enhancing cross-border communications and improving internet access. However, the report also points out that a significant concentration of web content and domain hosting is limited to a few countries. This centralization underscores the need for more localized internet services to foster a more distributed and resilient internet infrastructure across Africa.
Nigeria’s position in the report is particularly noteworthy. The country has made significant strides in developing its internet infrastructure. Similar to South Africa and Kenya, Nigeria benefits from multiple undersea cables that provide high-speed internet connectivity. The country’s ccTLD is effectively managed, bolstered by six Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and multiple data centers. These facilities are critical for improving local internet performance, reducing latency, and ensuring better service delivery.
Nigeria’s rise in the Africa Domain Name Industry is indicative of the country’s proactive measures to enhance its digital infrastructure. The establishment of multiple data centers and IXPs is part of a broader strategy to localize internet traffic, which helps reduce costs and improve speed and reliability for end-users. This infrastructure development is crucial for supporting the country’s growing digital economy and facilitating greater internet penetration.
However, to maintain and improve its position, Nigeria must address the high cost of internet access that remains a barrier for many users. Initiatives aimed at reducing data costs and improving affordability will be essential in driving further growth in internet usage and domain name registrations.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s advancement to second place in the Africa Domain Name Industry is a significant milestone that reflects the country’s progress in building a robust digital infrastructure. The broader African context, as highlighted by the ICANN report, shows a continent poised for growth in the digital domain space. However, addressing affordability and localizing internet services are critical steps needed to fully realize this potential. The continued collaboration between ICANN, PowerSoft Africa, and local stakeholders will be vital in driving the next phase of growth and ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy are widely accessible across the continent.
