NCC Assures Nigerians of Better Telecom Services as Operators Invest Over N2.5 Trillion in Network Expansion By Raymond Enoch
The Nigerian Communications Commission has assured Nigerians that ongoing industry-wide investments and regulatory interventions are already improving telecommunications services across the country, even as efforts intensify to tackle persistent network challenges affecting consumers.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by Nnena Ukoha, Head, Public Affairs, the Commission acknowledged growing public frustration over dropped calls, unstable internet connectivity, slow browsing speeds, and other service disruptions experienced in several parts of the country.
The Commission stressed that telecommunications services have become indispensable to national life, powering business activities, education, financial transactions, governance, healthcare access, and social interactions, adding that consumers deserve reliable and value-driven services.
According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service has remained one of its top regulatory priorities over the past two years, leading to intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies.
The telecom regulator disclosed that the industry is currently witnessing one of the largest network expansion and modernisation drives in recent years following years of under-investment.
The Commission revealed that in 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators committed over N2.13 trillion to network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies invested an additional N373.8 billion, resulting in the deployment and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites nationwide.
It explained that the investments targeted faster 4G and 5G deployment, fibre backhaul expansion, network capacity upgrades in high-demand urban centres, improved rural connectivity, and replacement of obsolete equipment.
The NCC further disclosed that the expansion momentum has continued into 2026, with operators committing to the addition and upgrade of over 12,000 telecom sites, out of which nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed.
The Commission also confirmed that over 730 new 5G sites have so far been deployed across 27 states in 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and support rising data consumption.
In a major regulatory intervention, the NCC said it has facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of idle and underutilised spectrum among the country’s major operators to improve network efficiency, capacity, and service delivery.
According to the Commission’s latest Quality of Service assessments, national median download speeds have improved 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 added that power availability across telecom infrastructure has also improved significantly, rising from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent currently.
Despite the progress, the NCC admitted that serious challenges remain in some locations where subscribers still experience congestion, poor call quality, unstable internet services, and network slowdowns.
The regulator blamed part of the problem on persistent fibre cuts, vandalism, theft of telecom infrastructure, power disruptions, and operational access challenges.
It disclosed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents linked largely to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone, negatively impacting network stability and customer experience.
To address the situation, the Commission said it 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 NCC noted that security interventions have already disrupted organised syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft and vandalism, while engagements with Federal and State Ministries of Works are helping reduce fibre damage caused by road construction projects.
As part of measures to improve transparency and consumer protection, the Commission said operators are now mandated to notify subscribers promptly whenever major service outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.
It added that details of major incidents are now publicly available through the NCC Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
The Commission also warned that enforcement actions against non-performing operators have already commenced under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024.
According to the statement, enforcement measures introduced from November 2025 include consumer compensation for poor service quality and additional infrastructure obligations on Tower Companies found wanting.
“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,” the statement declared.
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 reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
