Airtel Nigeria has announced plans to establish a subsea cable landing station in Port Harcourt, a move that will solidify the city’s position as a major digital gateway for Nigeria.
The project, which was confirmed by the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Hermanpreet Dhillon, is a strategic step to create a second point of international connectivity and bolster the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to the report, this development is particularly significant for Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta region. With almost all of Nigeria’s internet traffic currently flowing through Lagos, the new cable landing station will provide a vital redundancy, protecting the state from potential disruptions caused by damage to the existing single gateway.
The project is expected to expand international capacity and support the growth of data-intensive services, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence, right here in the oil-rich city.
The report has it that the Port Harcourt landing station is a key part of Airtel’s broader investment strategy, which also includes the construction of a 38 MW hyperscale data center in Lagos. Mr. Dhillon stated that these investments are designed to meet the surging demand for digital services and improve the overall quality of connectivity.
For residents and businesses in Rivers State, this investment promises tangible benefits. Airtel, which covers over 84 percent of Nigeria’s population, aims to use the new infrastructure to deliver higher speeds, ultra-low latency, and improved network stability.
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The expansion will also help bridge the digital divide by extending access to healthcare, education, and financial services to underserved communities across the state and beyond.
The report also noted a recent increase in Airtel’s capital expenditure, with investment in Nigeria rising to $39 million in the second quarter of 2025.
This financial commitment signals the company’s dedication to expanding its reach and improving service quality, with Port Harcourt at the center of this new wave of digital expansion.
