The Nigerian Communications Commission has acknowledged growing public frustration over poor telecommunications services across parts of Nigeria, assuring consumers that major investments and regulatory enforcement measures are underway to improve network quality nationwide.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, on May 13, 2026, the NCC said Nigerians are entitled to reliable telecom services, noting that telecommunications now play a critical role in business, education, healthcare, and everyday communication.
The Commission admitted that many consumers continue to experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data services, and network disruptions affecting daily activities.
According to the regulator, improving Quality of Service has remained a major priority over the past two years, with intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies.
The NCC disclosed that in 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested more than N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to expand and modernise telecommunications infrastructure nationwide.
The investments reportedly led to the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites across Nigeria to address coverage and capacity gaps.
The Commission stated that ongoing interventions include the deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, expansion of fibre backhaul systems, targeted urban capacity upgrades, and network rollout to underserved communities.
It added that telecom expansion efforts are continuing aggressively in 2026, with operators committing to add or upgrade over 12,000 sites this year. The NCC revealed that nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed, while more than 730 new 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states.
The regulator further explained that it had facilitated the reallocation of idle radio spectrum among major operators to improve spectral efficiency, network capacity, and overall service performance.
According to the Commission’s Quality of Service assessments, 4G penetration in Nigeria has risen from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while national median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.
The NCC also noted improvements in power availability at telecom towers, which increased from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent currently.
Despite the progress, the Commission admitted that service improvements remain inconsistent in some areas where subscribers still experience congestion, poor call quality, and slow internet connectivity.
The telecom regulator blamed part of the persistent service challenges on external factors such as fibre cuts, vandalism, equipment theft, and denial of access to telecom facilities.
It disclosed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone, mostly linked to road construction activities and vandalism.
The Commission said it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other government agencies to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and combat telecom infrastructure sabotage.
To improve transparency, the NCC said operators have now been mandated to notify consumers whenever major outages occur and restore services within specified timelines.
The Commission also warned that enforcement actions against operators failing to meet service quality standards had already commenced since November 2025 under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024.
According to the NCC, sanctions include consumer compensation measures and additional investment obligations for companies where performance failures are identified.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services for Nigerians, stressing that operators must now deliver measurable improvements across the country.
