NCC
NCC affirms poor telecom services concern, assures on remedies
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has acknowledged recent public concerns over the quality of telecommunications services in parts of the country, recognising the frustration consumers face when calls drop, internet speeds slow down, data services become unstable, or disruptions affect daily activities.
According to the Commission, telecommunications services are now central to how Nigerians work, learn, do business, access essential services, and stay connected, meaning consumers are entitled to reliable service and must receive value for what they pay for.
Over the past two years, improving Quality of Service has been a central regulatory priority for the NCC. The Commission has intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies; strengthened data-driven oversight; and deepened engagement with relevant public institutions to address structural barriers affecting service delivery.
The sector is currently undergoing one of its most extensive network expansion and modernisation cycles in recent years, following a prolonged period of under-investment. In 2025 alone, MNOs invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies added N373.8 billion across the sector. These investments supported the addition and upgrade of over 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide, addressing coverage and capacity gaps in several locations.
The interventions include faster 4G and 5G layers on existing sites, fibre backhaul expansion, targeted deployments in high-demand urban areas, rollout into underserved communities, and general network equipment refresh. The NCC stated that while these investments are welcome, the expectation is that they must translate into visible and measurable service improvements for consumers.
This expansion drive is continuing in 2026 in response to Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and exponential data consumption growth. The NCC has secured industry commitments for the addition and upgrade of over 12,000 sites within the year, of which close to 3,000 have already been delivered. Deployment of next-generation infrastructure is also accelerating, with over 730 additional 5G sites already deployed across 27 states so far in 2026.
In line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines, the Commission has facilitated the reallocation of most idle and underutilised radio spectrum among the three major MNOs, while also rearranging spectrum blocks to provide contiguity for operators. These interventions are designed to improve spectral efficiency, network capacity, and service performance.
The NCC’s Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments, conducted using crowdsourced and field-based analytics, show gradual improvements in network capacity, coverage, and average data download speeds across several parts of the country. As subscribers continue migrating to faster 4G networks—with 4G penetration rising from 45% in January 2024 to 54% currently—national median download speeds have increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period. Power availability at telecom towers has also improved from a national average of 99.3% in January 2025 to 99.7% currently.
The Commission noted that these improvements are most evident in areas where recent upgrades and new site deployments have been completed. However, the NCC is equally clear that the pace and consistency of improvement must increase, particularly where consumers continue to experience poor call quality, slow data speeds, congestion, and service instability.
In alignment with government policy to deepen fibre penetration to homes, businesses, schools, and public institutions, the Commission is at an advanced stage of conducting a market study aimed at creating a wholesale market segment. This will enable smaller, more localised ISPs to expand service penetration and deliver internet services at lower cost, complementing government-backed initiatives such as Project BRIDGE.
The NCC is also addressing persistent external risks affecting network performance, including frequent fibre cuts, vandalism, theft at network sites, power-related disruptions, and denial of access for maintenance and operations. In 2025 alone, over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents—primarily linked to road construction and vandalism—were recorded nationwide. The Commission is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other stakeholders to operationalise the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure. Through this collaboration, organised syndicates involved in theft and resale of telecom equipment have been disrupted, while engagement with Federal and State Ministries of Works is establishing a governance mechanism to reduce avoidable fibre cuts from road construction.
To improve transparency, the NCC has mandated operators to provide timely notifications to consumers whenever there is a major service outage and to restore affected services within defined timeframes. Details of major incidents are also logged on the Commission’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal at https://uptime.com/statuspage/ncc.
The NCC continues to hold all key players in the Quality of Service value chain accountable. Under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024—gazetted in July 2024—MNOs and Tower Companies were allowed a defined transition period to order, ship, and install required equipment nationwide. That transition period was not open-ended. The Commission commenced enforcement from November 2025, including consumer compensation measures for poor service quality and additional investment obligations on Tower Companies where performance failures were identified. The NCC stated that this enforcement will continue, and where operators fail to deliver measurable improvements, the Commission will take appropriate regulatory action, including escalation where necessary.
The NCC commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, ONSA, and other critical stakeholders for their continued support of the Commission’s regulatory mandate. At the same time, the Commission reiterated that addressing underlying challenges affecting Quality of Service requires a whole-of-society approach. It called on all stakeholders—across federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities—to support efforts aimed at protecting telecommunications infrastructure, facilitating timely access for maintenance, and creating an enabling environment for sustained investment.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, stating: “The expectation is clear: the industry must now deliver measurable improvements, and the Commission will continue to enforce compliance in the interest of consumers and the wider economy.”
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