The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that significant improvements in telecommunications services are underway as operators intensify investments in network expansion and infrastructure upgrades across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission acknowledged growing public concerns over poor service quality, including dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data connections, and other network disruptions affecting millions of subscribers nationwide.
The NCC noted that reliable telecommunications services have become critical to business, education, healthcare, and everyday communication, stressing that consumers deserve efficient and reliable service delivery.
According to the Commission, improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained one of its top regulatory priorities over the past two years. It said regulatory monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies has been strengthened through data-driven oversight and collaboration with relevant government agencies to address persistent challenges in the sector.
The Commission disclosed that the telecom industry is currently undergoing one of its largest network modernisation and expansion programmes in recent years following prolonged under-investment.
It revealed that Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025 alone, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support sector-wide improvements.
According to the NCC, the investments facilitated the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites nationwide, aimed at improving network coverage and capacity.
The expansion projects include deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, fibre backhaul expansion, targeted upgrades in high-demand urban areas, rural network expansion, and replacement of ageing equipment.
The Commission further stated that the expansion drive has continued into 2026, with operators committing to deploy and upgrade more than 12,000 telecom sites this year. It added that nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed, while over 730 new 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states.
The NCC also disclosed that it facilitated the reallocation and optimisation of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines to improve network efficiency and service delivery.
According to the Commission’s Quality of Service assessments, improvements have already been recorded in network capacity, coverage, and internet speeds in several parts of the country.
It stated that national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps in January 2024 to 20Mbps currently, while 4G penetration rose from 45 percent to 54 percent within the same period.
The Commission also noted that power availability at telecom tower sites improved from a national average of 99.3 percent in January 2025 to 99.7 percent presently.
Despite the progress, the NCC admitted that several locations still experience poor call quality, slow internet services, network congestion, and instability, insisting that operators must accelerate ongoing improvements.
The regulator further revealed that it is conducting a market study aimed at establishing a wholesale internet market segment to support smaller Internet Service Providers and expand affordable broadband access to homes, schools, businesses, and public institutions.
The Commission identified major challenges affecting service delivery to include fibre cuts, vandalism, theft of telecom infrastructure, power disruptions, and denial of access to network facilities.
It disclosed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025, largely linked to road construction activities and vandalism.
The NCC said it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and curb vandalism and theft targeting telecom assets.
To improve transparency and consumer protection, the Commission directed operators to promptly notify subscribers during major service outages and restore services within stipulated timelines.
It added that details of major service disruptions are now published on its outage reporting portal.
Meanwhile, the NCC stated that enforcement actions under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 commenced in November 2025 after operators were given time to deploy the required infrastructure upgrades.
The Commission warned that operators failing to deliver measurable service improvements risk sanctions, including additional regulatory actions and possible consumer compensation measures.
The statement was signed by the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, on May 13, 2026.
