Nigeria’s internet infrastructure is receiving a significant boost as Airtel Nigeria activates an additional international traffic route through the 2Africa submarine cable landing in Akwa Ibom State. The move reduces the country’s heavy reliance on Lagos as the main gateway for global data traffic, introducing greater redundancy and improving nationwide connectivity performance.
According to Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, the new route enhances network resilience and service quality by creating an alternative southern access point for international data. Connected to the 45,000-kilometre 2Africa cable system spanning 33 countries across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, the expansion enables more direct data routing and is expected to improve speed and latency across multiple regions of Nigeria.
The additional breakout route also mitigates risks linked to congestion or outages in Lagos. Sectors dependent on stable connectivity, including banking, digital startups, and public services, stand to benefit. Airtel is complementing the upgrade with continued fibre infrastructure investments to strengthen its national network backbone.
