The Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, has assured stakeholders, especially telecom subscribers that service quality improvements in the sector are underway following massive investments in network infrastructure.

The Commission, which admitted that there have been increasing apprehension and public concerns over the quality of telecommunications services across parts of the country, assured Nigerians and indeed telecom service subscribers that ongoing industry-wide interventions are beginning to yield measurable improvements.

According to a statement by the Head, Public Affairs of the Commission, Nnenna Ukoha, consumers have experienced frustrations ranging from dropped calls and slow internet speeds to unstable data services and widespread network disruptions affecting daily activities.

She noted that telecommunications services have become essential to how Nigerians work, learn, conduct business, access vital services, and stay connected and as such, consumers deserve reliable service and value for money.

The statement dated May 13, 2026, reads in part: “Improving Quality of Service has remained one of NCC’s top regulatory priorities over the past two years.

“To address persistent challenges, NCC disclosed that it has intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies while strengthening data-driven oversight and collaboration with key public institutions.

“NCC wishes to state that the telecommunications sector is currently experiencing one of its largest network expansion and modernisation phases in recent years, following a long period of under-investment.

“In 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies added another N373.8 billion in sector-wide investments. These investments reportedly supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide.

“These interventions include the deployment of faster 4G and 5G services on existing sites, expansion of fibre backhaul infrastructure, targeted deployments in high-demand urban areas, rollout into underserved communities, and the replacement of aging network equipment.

“We also wish to state that these investments are encouraging, and our expectation remains that they must translate into visible and measurable service improvements for consumers.

“The expansion drive is continuing in 2026 as Nigeria’s digital ecosystem grows rapidly and data consumption increases exponentially. The industry operators have committed to adding and upgrading over 12,000 telecommunications sites within the year, with close to 3,000 already completed.”

She further revealed that deployment of next-generation infrastructure is accelerating, with more than 730 additional 5G sites already rolled out across 27 states in 2026.

She also disclosed that the Commission has facilitated the reallocation of idle and underutilised radio spectrum among the three major Mobile Network Operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines. Spectrum blocks were also rearranged to provide contiguity for operators, a move aimed at improving spectral efficiency, network capacity, and overall service performance.

It was gathered that the Commission’s Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments, conducted through crowdsourced and field-based analytics, indicate gradual improvements in network capacity, coverage, and average download speeds in several parts of the country.

The NCC cited figures, which confirm that as more subscribers migrate to faster 4G networks, with 4G penetration rising from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, national median download speeds have increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.

It also reported improvements in power availability at telecom towers, which rose from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent currently.

The Commission however insists that despite the progress recorded in areas where recent upgrades and new deployments have been completed, improvement must become faster and more consistent, especially in locations where consumers still face poor call quality, network congestion, slow internet speeds, and unstable services.

According to her, as part of broader efforts to deepen fibre penetration across homes, businesses, schools, and public institutions, the NCC is at an advanced stage of conducting a market study aimed at creating a wholesale market segment.

This initiative, she noted, will enable smaller and more localised Internet Service Providers to expand service coverage and offer internet access at lower costs. The move is expected to complement government-backed projects such as Project BRIDGE and other digital infrastructure initiatives.

The Commission further identified persistent external threats affecting network performance, including frequent fibre cuts, vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, theft at network sites, power-related disruptions, and denial of access for maintenance operations.

It revealed that more than 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone, most of them linked to road construction activities and vandalism.

It explained that each fibre cut incident directly impacts network performance, service availability, and consumer experience.

“To improve transparency, we mandated operators to provide timely notifications to consumers whenever there is a major service outage and to restore affected services within defined timeframes. Details of major incidents are also logged on the Commission’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal at the time of incident: https://uptime.com/statuspage/ncc.

“Also, to tackle the challenge, the Commission is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to implement the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure.

“This collaboration has already disrupted organised syndicates involved in the theft and resale of telecom equipment, while ongoing engagement with federal and state ministries of works is helping to establish mechanisms aimed at reducing avoidable fibre cuts caused by road construction projects.

“In a bid to improve transparency, operators have now been mandated to notify consumers promptly whenever major service outages occur and to restore affected services within specified timelines. Details of major incidents are logged on its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal. So we continue to hold all players in the Quality of Service value chain accountable”, the statement said.

It was learnt that under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, gazetted in July 2024, Mobile Network Operators and Tower Companies were granted a transition period to procure, ship, and install equipment needed to improve service delivery nationwide.

The Commission noted that the transition period was not indefinite and that enforcement measures officially commenced in November 2025.

According to NCC, the enforcement measures include consumer compensation for poor service quality as well as additional investment obligations for Tower Companies where performance failures are identified.

The Commission warned that enforcement actions would continue and that operators failing to deliver measurable improvements risk facing stricter regulatory sanctions.

The NCC also commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other stakeholders for supporting its regulatory mandate.

Nevertheless, the Commission reiterated that resolving the underlying challenges affecting telecommunications service quality requires a collective effort involving all levels of government, host communities, and industry stakeholders.

It therefore called on stakeholders across federal, state, and local governments to support the protection of telecommunications infrastructure, facilitate timely access for maintenance, and create an enabling environment for sustained investments in the sector.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, insisting that the industry must now deliver measurable improvements in the interest of consumers and the wider economy.