Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has acknowledged growing public concerns over the quality of telecommunications services in parts of the country, assuring consumers that efforts are underway to improve network performance and service delivery nationwide.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission said it recognised the frustration experienced by consumers due to dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data services, and other service disruptions affecting daily activities.

According to the Commission, telecommunications services have become central to economic and social activities, including business, education, and access to essential services, stressing that consumers deserve reliable services and value for money.

The NCC disclosed that improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained a major regulatory priority over the past two years. It said the Commission had intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies, while strengthening data-driven oversight and engagement with relevant institutions to tackle structural challenges affecting service delivery.

The Commission noted that the telecommunications sector is currently undergoing one of its largest network expansion and modernisation drives in recent years, following what it described as a prolonged period of under-investment.

According to the statement, Mobile Network Operators invested over ₦2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025 alone, while Tower Companies committed an additional ₦373.8 billion to the sector. These investments supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites across the country.

The NCC explained that the interventions included deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, expansion of fibre backhaul systems, targeted installations in high-demand urban areas, rollout of services to underserved communities, and replacement of ageing network equipment.

It added that the expansion drive has continued into 2026, with operators committing to add or upgrade more than 12,000 sites within the year, of which nearly 3,000 have already been completed. The Commission further disclosed that over 730 new 5G sites had been deployed across 27 states so far in 2026.

The Commission also revealed that it had facilitated the reallocation of idle and underutilised radio spectrum among the three major mobile network operators in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines. According to the NCC, the move is aimed at improving spectral efficiency, increasing network capacity, and enhancing service performance.

The statement noted that recent Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments conducted by the Commission indicated gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity, and average data download speeds in several parts of the country.

It said national median download speeds had 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. Power availability at telecom towers also improved from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent presently.

Despite the improvements, the Commission admitted that consumers in some locations still experience poor call quality, congestion, slow internet speeds, and service instability, stressing that operators must accelerate the pace and consistency of improvements.

The NCC also disclosed that it is conducting a market study aimed at creating a wholesale broadband market segment to enable smaller and localised Internet Service Providers to expand internet access at lower costs. It said the initiative complements government-backed projects such as Project BRIDGE aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

On challenges affecting service quality, the Commission identified frequent fibre cuts, vandalism, theft of telecom equipment, power-related disruptions, and denial of access to network sites as major obstacles.

It revealed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents linked mainly to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone, with significant impact on network performance and service availability.

According to the NCC, it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and curb the activities of syndicates involved in telecom infrastructure vandalism and theft.

The Commission further stated that operators have been directed to notify consumers promptly whenever major outages occur and to restore affected services within stipulated timelines. It added that details of major incidents are now being published on the Commission’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.

The NCC said enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 commenced in November 2025 after operators were granted a transition period to procure and install equipment required to improve service delivery.

It warned that enforcement actions, including consumer compensation measures and additional investment obligations for operators failing to meet performance standards, would continue where measurable improvements are not achieved.

The Commission commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other stakeholders for supporting efforts to improve service quality in the sector.

It also appealed to federal, state and local governments, as well as host communities, to support the protection of telecommunications infrastructure and create an enabling environment for sustained investment in the industry.

The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, insisting that the industry must now deliver measurable improvements in service quality.