The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says ongoing investments by telecom operators are producing measurable improvements in network quality, but warned that it will keep enforcing standards until consumers see consistent service.
In a statement on Wednesday, NCC Head of Public Affairs Nnenna Ukoha said the commission remained committed to ensuring “reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services” for all Nigerians. The reassurance comes amid continued public complaints about dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and unstable data connections.
Ukoha said improving Quality of Service has been the commission’s central regulatory priority for the past two years. During that period, the NCC has intensified monitoring of mobile network operators, internet service providers, and tower companies, while deepening collaboration with other public institutions to address structural barriers.
The commission said the sector is in one of its most extensive expansion and modernisation cycles in years. In 2025 alone, operators invested over ₦2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, and tower companies added ₦373.8 billion. The spending supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 sites nationwide, including new 4G and 5G layers, expanded fibre backhaul, and deployments in underserved areas.
The expansion is continuing into 2026, with commitments to add and upgrade over 12,000 sites. Nearly 3,000 have been delivered so far, and more than 730 new 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states this year.
To improve efficiency, the NCC said it has facilitated the reallocation of idle and underused spectrum among the three major operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines, while rearranging spectrum blocks to give operators contiguous bands.
According to the commission’s Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments, network capacity, coverage, and average download speeds are gradually improving. 4G penetration rose from 45% in January 2024 to 54% currently, while national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps. Power availability at telecom towers also improved from 99.3% in January 2025 to 99.7%.
The NCC said the gains are most visible where upgrades and new sites have been completed, but stressed that the pace must accelerate in areas still facing poor call quality, congestion, and instability.
To expand broadband access, the commission is finalising a market study to create a wholesale segment that will allow smaller internet service providers to offer cheaper services. The move complements Project BRIDGE and other government efforts to deepen fibre penetration.
The commission is also tackling persistent threats to infrastructure. In 2025, over 27,000 avoidable fibre cuts, mostly from road works and vandalism, were recorded nationwide. The NCC said it is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure, and with federal and state works ministries to reduce cuts during construction.
On transparency, operators are now required to notify consumers of major outages and restore services within set timelines. Major incidents are logged on the NCC’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
Enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 began in November 2025. Measures include consumer compensation for poor service and additional investment obligations for tower companies with performance failures. The commission said enforcement will continue, and regulatory action will escalate where operators fail to deliver measurable improvements.
The NCC thanked the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, and the Office of the National Security Adviser for their support, but said fixing service quality requires a whole-of-society effort. It called on federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities, to protect infrastructure and facilitate access for maintenance.
“The expectation is clear,” Ukoha said. “The industry must now deliver measurable improvements, and the commission will continue to enforce compliance in the interest of consumers and the wider economy.”
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