The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that ongoing industry investments and regulatory interventions aimed at addressing telecommunications service quality challenges across Nigeria are steadily yielding results, as the sector undergoes one of its most significant infrastructure expansion and modernization phases in recent years.
The Commission acknowledged growing public concerns over poor call quality, slow internet speeds, unstable data connectivity, and service disruptions experienced in some parts of the country. It noted that telecommunications services have become essential to the daily lives of Nigerians, powering businesses, education, healthcare access, financial services, and social interactions. As such, consumers deserve reliable, efficient, and value-driven services.
According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained a top regulatory priority over the past two years. To achieve this, the Commission has strengthened oversight of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies through enhanced monitoring systems, data-driven regulatory assessments, and strategic engagement with public institutions to eliminate structural barriers affecting service delivery.
The Commission disclosed that the telecommunications sector is currently witnessing extensive network expansion and modernization efforts following years of under-investment. In 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to sector-wide improvements. These investments facilitated the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites nationwide, helping to bridge existing coverage and capacity gaps.
The ongoing interventions include deployment of faster 4G and 5G technologies, expansion of fibre backhaul infrastructure, targeted rollout in high-demand urban areas, increased connectivity in underserved communities, and comprehensive network equipment upgrades. The NCC emphasized that while these investments are commendable, the ultimate expectation is for consumers to experience visible and measurable improvements in service quality.
The expansion drive has continued into 2026 as Nigeria’s digital ecosystem rapidly evolves and data consumption grows exponentially. The Commission revealed that operators have committed to deploying and upgrading over 12,000 telecom sites this year, with nearly 3,000 sites already completed. Additionally, more than 730 new 5G sites have so far been deployed across 27 states in 2026.
To further improve network efficiency and performance, the NCC stated that it has facilitated the reallocation and optimization of underutilized radio spectrum among the country’s three major Mobile Network Operators in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines. These measures are expected to significantly enhance network capacity, spectral efficiency, and service delivery nationwide.
The Commission’s Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments, based on both crowdsourced and field analytics, indicate gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity, and average data download speeds across several regions. With subscriber migration to 4G services increasing, 4G penetration has risen from 45 percent in January 2024 to 54 percent currently, while national median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period. Telecom tower power availability has also improved from a national average of 99.3 percent in January 2025 to 99.7 percent presently.
Despite these gains, the NCC stressed that improvement must become faster and more consistent, especially in areas where subscribers still experience poor call quality, congestion, slow internet speeds, and unstable services.
As part of broader efforts to deepen digital connectivity, the Commission disclosed that it is currently conducting an advanced market study aimed at establishing a wholesale telecom market segment. This initiative is expected to enable smaller and localized Internet Service Providers to expand affordable internet penetration to homes, schools, businesses, and public institutions. The initiative complements ongoing government-backed projects such as Project BRIDGE and other national digital infrastructure programs.
The NCC also highlighted persistent external challenges affecting network performance, including frequent fibre cuts, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, theft of network equipment, power disruptions, and restricted access to telecom facilities for maintenance operations.
The Commission revealed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone, largely linked to road construction activities and vandalism. These incidents continue to negatively impact service availability and consumer experience. To tackle the problem, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to fully implement the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure protection. The collaboration has already led to the disruption of organized criminal syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft and improved coordination with Ministries of Works to reduce fibre damage during road projects.
To strengthen transparency and consumer protection, the Commission has directed operators to provide timely notifications to subscribers whenever major service outages occur and ensure restoration within defined timelines. Information on significant network incidents is also made publicly available through the Commission’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
The NCC further noted that enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 commenced in November 2025 following the expiration of a transition period granted to operators and tower companies to procure and install required network equipment nationwide. Enforcement measures include consumer compensation for poor service quality and additional investment obligations for infrastructure providers where deficiencies are identified.
The Commission emphasized that enforcement actions will continue and warned that operators failing to deliver measurable service improvements will face further regulatory sanctions where necessary.
The NCC commended the support of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other stakeholders in advancing its regulatory mandate. It, however, reiterated that addressing Nigeria’s telecommunications service quality challenges requires collective action from all stakeholders, including federal and state governments, local authorities, host communities, and infrastructure partners.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, stressing that the industry must now translate investments into tangible improvements that consumers can experience nationwide.
