NCC Assures Nigerians of Improved Telecom Services Amid Network Expansion Drive

Oru Leonard 

The Nigerian Communications Commission has assured Nigerians that ongoing investments and regulatory interventions in the telecommunications sector are beginning to yield improvements 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 concerns over poor call quality, slow internet speeds, unstable data services, and network disruptions affecting consumers in different parts of the country.

The Commission noted that telecommunications services have become critical to business, education, healthcare, and everyday communication, stressing that consumers deserve reliable services and value for money.

According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service has remained a top regulatory priority over the past two years, with intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies to address structural challenges affecting service delivery.

The Commission disclosed that telecom operators invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades in 2025, with Mobile Network Operators spending over N2.13 trillion, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to network expansion and modernisation projects nationwide.

It said the investments led to the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites, including deployment of faster 4G and 5G services, fibre backhaul expansion, and improved network capacity in urban and underserved communities.

The NCC further revealed that the sector’s expansion drive is continuing in 2026, with operators committing to deploy and upgrade over 12,000 additional sites during the year. It added that nearly 3,000 sites have already been delivered, alongside the rollout of more than 730 new 5G sites across 27 states.

The Commission also highlighted efforts to improve spectrum efficiency through the reallocation and restructuring of idle radio spectrum among major operators, aimed at boosting network performance and service quality.

According to the NCC, recent Quality of Service assessments indicate gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity, and internet download speeds. It noted that 4G penetration increased from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps.

The regulator, however, admitted that some areas still experience poor service quality, congestion, and unstable connectivity, insisting that operators must accelerate the pace of improvement.

The Commission also identified external challenges affecting network performance, including vandalism, theft of telecom infrastructure, frequent fibre cuts, and power-related disruptions.

It disclosed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded in 2025 alone, mostly linked to road construction activities and vandalism, with direct consequences on network availability and consumer experience.

To address the problem, the NCC said it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and relevant stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and curb the activities of criminal syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft.

The Commission added that operators have now been mandated to notify consumers promptly during major service outages and restore services within specified timelines. It said outage reports are being documented through its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.

The NCC reiterated that enforcement of the Quality of Service Regulations 2024 began in November 2025, warning that operators failing to meet expected service standards would face regulatory sanctions, including consumer compensation measures and additional investment obligations.

The Commission called on federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities, to support efforts aimed at protecting telecommunications infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for sustained investment in the sector.
“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 added.