May 17, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has noted recent public concerns regarding the quality of telecommunications services in parts of the country.
In a statement signed by its Head, Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the Commission noted that it recognises the frustration experienced by consumers when calls drop, internet speeds slow down, data services become unstable, or service disruptions affect daily activities.
It noted that telecommunications services are now central to how Nigerians work, learn, do business, access essential services, and stay connected, adding that consumers are entitled to reliable service and must receive value for the services they pay for.
Part of the statement read: “Over the past two years, improving Quality of Service has been a central regulatory priority for the Commission. The NCC has intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers and Tower Companies, strengthened data-driven oversight, and deepened engagement with relevant public institutions to address structural barriers that affect service delivery. These measures are intended to ensure that the industry moves towards measurable improvements.”
“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, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies invested an additional 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 the addition of faster 4G and 5G layers on existing sites, expansion of fibre backhaul to improve site capacity and resilience, targeted deployments in high-demand urban locations, rollout into underserved communities, and general network equipment refresh. These investments are welcome, but the Commission’s 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 the exponential growth in data consumption. 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. The deployment of next-generation infrastructure is also accelerating, with more than 730 additional 5G sites already deployed across 27 states so far in 2026.
“In addition, and in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines, the Commission has facilitated the reallocation of a majority of idle and underutilised valuable radio spectrum among the three major Mobile Network Operators, while also rearranging spectrum blocks to provide contiguity for operators. These interventions are designed to improve spectral efficiency, network capacity, and service performance.
“The Commission’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 to migrate 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.
“These improvements are most evident in areas where recent upgrades and new site deployments have been completed. However, the Commission is equally clear that the pace and consistency of improvement must increase, particularly in locations 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 also at an advanced stage of conducting a market study aimed at creating a wholesale market segment. This will enable smaller and more localised Internet Service Providers to expand service penetration and deliver internet services at lower cost. This complements government-backed initiatives such as Project BRIDGE and other efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s national digital infrastructure.
“The Commission is also addressing persistent external risks that continue to affect network performance, including frequent fibre cuts, vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, theft at network sites, power-related disruptions, and denial of access for maintenance and operations.
The apex telecoms industry regulator disclosed that in 2025 alone, over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents, primarily linked to road construction and vandalism, were recorded nationwide. It said that each incident has a direct impact on network performance, service availability, and consumer experience.
“The Commission is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to operationalise the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure. Through this collaboration, organised syndicates involved in the theft and resale of telecom equipment have been disrupted, while engagement with Federal and State Ministries of Works is putting in place a governance mechanism to reduce avoidable fibre cuts arising from road construction.”
