By George Ozalla
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured telecommunications consumers that ongoing efforts to tackle persistent network and service quality challenges across the country are yielding results, declaring that industry interventions aimed at improving service delivery are on course.
The Commission stated that although consumers still experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data services and other disruptions in some locations, significant investments and regulatory measures have already begun to improve network performance nationwide.
According to a press statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs of the NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained a major regulatory priority for the Commission over the past two years, with intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies.
The Commission disclosed that in 2025 alone, MNOs invested more than N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support expansion and modernisation projects across the telecommunications sector.
It explained that the investments led to the addition and upgrade of over 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide to address network coverage and capacity gaps in several areas.
The NCC further revealed that the ongoing expansion drive has continued into 2026, with industry operators committing to the addition and upgrade of over 12,000 sites within the year, out of which nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed.
The Commission added that more than 730 additional Fifth Generation (5G) sites have already been deployed across 27 states this year as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and meet increasing data consumption demands.
It noted that the interventions include deployment of additional Fourth Generation (4G) and 5G layers on existing sites, expansion of fibre backhaul infrastructure, targeted deployments in densely populated urban centres, extension of services to underserved communities, and replacement of obsolete network equipment.
According to the statement, the Commission has also facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of underutilised radio spectrum among the country’s three major MNOs in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines to improve spectral efficiency, network capacity, and service quality.
The NCC stated that its QoS and Quality of Experience assessments, conducted through crowdsourced and field-based analytics, indicate gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity, and average data download speeds across several parts of the country.
It disclosed that national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps in January 2024 to 20Mbps currently, while 4G penetration rose from 45 per cent to 54 per cent within the same period.
The Commission also reported improvements in power availability at telecom tower sites, noting that the national average increased from 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent presently.
While acknowledging improvements in some locations where recent upgrades have been completed, the NCC maintained that operators must increase the pace and consistency of network enhancement, especially in areas still experiencing congestion, poor call quality, slow internet speeds, and unstable service delivery.
The Commission further disclosed that it is conducting a market study aimed at establishing a wholesale broadband market segment to enable smaller and localised ISPs expand internet penetration and provide more affordable services to consumers.
The statement added that the initiative aligns with broader Federal Government digital infrastructure programmes, including Project BRIDGE.
On challenges affecting service delivery, the NCC identified frequent fibre cuts, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, theft of equipment, power disruptions, and denial of access to maintenance teams as major threats to network performance.
It revealed that more than 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents linked mainly to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded across the country in 2025 alone.
The Commission stated that it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and curb the activities of criminal syndicates involved in theft and resale of telecommunications equipment.
The NCC also said operators have now been directed to promptly notify consumers whenever major network outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.
According to the statement, enforcement actions under the updated QoS Regulations 2024 commenced fully from November 2025 after operators were granted a transition period to procure and install required equipment nationwide.
The Commission warned that enforcement measures, including consumer compensation and additional investment obligations on Tower Companies, would continue where operators fail to improve service delivery.
The NCC commended the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, ONSA, and other stakeholders for supporting ongoing efforts to strengthen telecommunications services across the country.
The Commission said Nigerians deserve better network experience and assured consumers that regulatory actions against defaulting operators would continue as efforts intensify to improve service quality nationwide.
