by George Ozalla
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday 28th. January, 2026 released its Quarter Four 2025 Network Performance Report, presenting fresh data showing steady improvement in network quality across the country while acknowledging persistent gaps in coverage, upload speeds and the rollout of fifth generation services.
The report was formally presented at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja during a media and stakeholder engagement that brought together the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr Abraham Oshadami, senior technical officials and members of the media. The engagement was aimed at explaining the findings of the report and placing them within the broader regulatory and investment context of the telecommunications sector.
Speaking on the release of the report, Dr Maida said the engagement underscored the Commission’s commitment to transparent, data driven regulation and the continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. He explained that through its collaboration with Ookla, the NCC is providing independent insights into real world network performance and the everyday digital experience of Nigerians across cities, rural communities, highways and emerging 5G locations.
According to him, the Q4 2025 report enables the Commission to track progress over time, identify performance gaps and guide targeted regulatory interventions spanning spectrum optimisation, infrastructure upgrades, enforcement of quality of service standards and the expansion of connectivity to underserved and rural areas.
Dr Maida noted that the data revealed clear and consistent improvements in network quality, particularly in median download speeds in both urban and rural areas when compared with the third quarter of 2025. He said one of the notable outcomes of the report was the narrowing of the video quality of experience gap between urban and rural users, alongside the continued strengthening of the country’s 4G backbone, which remains the dominant access technology for most Nigerians.
He acknowledged that the industry is not without challenges, citing gaps in 5G service availability, disparities in upload speeds and uneven mobile service coverage in some parts of the country. The Executive Vice Chairman said the Commission is actively engaging operators to address these issues, adding that the findings of the report are already informing regulatory actions and ongoing discussions with industry players.
Linking the gains recorded in the report to sustained capital injection into the sector, Dr Maida disclosed that over one billion dollars was invested by operators in 2025, leading to the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide to expand both coverage and capacity. He added that operators have committed to exceeding their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure rollout expected to continue across the country.
During his speech, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr Abraham Oshadami, said the quarterly network performance reports were introduced to deepen transparency and ensure that regulatory decisions are guided by independent and verifiable data. He explained that the reports provide a consistent framework for assessing network performance across technologies and locations, while enabling consumers, operators and policymakers to track trends and improvements over time.
Oshadami said the Q4 2025 report builds on the first edition released in October 2025 and reflects early gains from regulatory interventions and industry investments. He noted that beyond headline speed metrics, the Commission is increasingly seeing improvements in quality of experience indicators that directly affect consumers, including video streaming performance and overall network reliability.
Officials of the Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, who also spoke during the presentation, highlighted variations in performance across regions and technologies. They noted that while 4G networks continue to show gradual strengthening nationwide, performance remains stronger in major urban centres than in rural areas. They also pointed to the limited but expanding footprint of 5G services, describing accelerated investment in the technology as critical to unlocking its full benefits.
In her remarks, the Head of Public Affairs of the Commission, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, said the engagement was designed to improve media understanding of the data behind the report and encourage accurate, context driven reporting of telecoms performance. She said the quarterly reports are intended to serve as tools for accountability, public education and constructive dialogue between the regulator, operators and consumers.
Ukoha added that by making performance data publicly available and engaging directly with journalists, the Commission is reinforcing its commitment to openness and informed public discourse, while also helping the public to better appreciate both the progress being made and the challenges that remain in the sector.
Overall, the Commission said the Q4 2025 Network Performance Report reflects an industry on a gradual upward trajectory, driven by investment, regulatory oversight and data driven decision making. While gaps remain, particularly in rural connectivity and advanced services, the NCC expressed confidence that sustained collaboration with operators and stakeholders will translate the insights from the report into better connectivity, improved service quality and a more inclusive digital future for Nigerians.
