The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reassured citizens that ongoing investments and stricter regulatory measures in the telecommunications sector are beginning to yield positive results in service quality across the country.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the NCC acknowledged growing public frustration over poor call quality, slow internet speeds, unreliable data services, and frequent network disruptions affecting users in different parts of Nigeria.
The regulator stressed that telecom services are now critical for business, education, healthcare, and everyday communication, adding that consumers deserve reliable services and value for their money.
According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service (QoS) has been a major regulatory priority over the past two years.
It has intensified oversight of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies to address structural challenges affecting service delivery.
The Commission disclosed that telecom operators invested heavily in infrastructure in 2025, with MNOs committing over N2.13 trillion and Tower Companies investing an additional N373.8 billion for network expansion and modernisation nationwide.
These investments led to the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites, including faster 4G and 5G deployments, fibre backhaul expansion, and increased capacity in urban and underserved areas.
Expansion efforts are continuing in 2026, with operators planning to deploy and upgrade over 12,000 additional sites this year. Nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed, alongside the rollout of more than 730 new 5G sites across 27 states.
The NCC also highlighted efforts to improve spectrum efficiency through reallocation and restructuring, aimed at boosting network performance.
Recent QoS assessments show gradual improvements: 4G penetration has risen from 45% in January 2024 to 54% currently, while median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps.
Despite these gains, the regulator admitted that some areas still experience poor service quality, congestion, and unstable connectivity, urging operators to accelerate improvements.
External factors such as vandalism, theft of telecom infrastructure, frequent fibre cuts, and power outages continue to hamper performance.
The Commission reported over 27,000 preventable fibre-cut incidents in 2025 alone, mostly linked to road construction and vandalism.
To address these challenges, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and tackle criminal activities targeting telecom equipment.
Operators are now required to promptly inform customers during major outages and restore services within stipulated timeframes.
The enforcement of the Quality of Service Regulations 2024, which began in November 2025, includes penalties and potential consumer compensation for non-compliant operators.
The NCC called on federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities, to support the protection of telecom infrastructure and create an enabling environment for continued investment.
“The expectation is unequivocal: the industry is now required to provide tangible enhancements, and the Commission will persist in enforcing compliance for the benefit of consumers and the broader economy,” the statement concluded.
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