The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured citizens that ongoing investment and regulatory measures are beginning to lift the quality of telecom services across the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, acknowledged that many subscribers still face dropped calls, slow internet speeds, network congestion, and unstable data connections in certain areas. However, she stressed that improving quality of service has remained a top regulatory priority for the past two years.
According to the commission, mobile network operators invested more than N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025, while tower companies added N373.8 billion to support national expansion. These efforts led to the addition or upgrade of over 2,800 telecom sites, enhancing coverage and capacity.
The interventions include new 4G and 5G infrastructure, fibre backhaul expansion, urban upgrades, and service rollouts to underserved communities. Operators have committed to adding or upgrading over 12,000 sites in 2026, with nearly 3,000 already delivered. More than 730 new 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states so far this year.
4G penetration has risen from 45% in January 2024 to 54% currently, while national median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps over the same period. Power availability at telecom towers also edged up from 99.3% to 99.7% since January 2025.
The NCC has also facilitated the reallocation of underused radio spectrum among major operators to boost network efficiency.
Despite these gains, external challenges persist—including fibre cuts, vandalism, equipment theft, and power disruptions. In 2025 alone, over 27,000 fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide, mostly linked to road construction and vandalism.
The commission said it is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of telecom infrastructure. Operators have been directed to notify consumers promptly during major outages and restore services within set timelines.
Enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 began in November 2025, with sanctions and compensation for operators who fail to meet required standards. The NCC warned that any operator not delivering measurable improvements will face further regulatory action.
