By our Correspondent
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has declared that the ongoing efforts by stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to address Quality of Service (QoS) challenges are on course and ramping up investment in the sector.
The Commission, in a statement by Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs Department, reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, stressing that the industry would henceforth deliver visible and measurable improvements for consumers and the economy.
Ukoha noted the frustrations experienced by consumers due to dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data connections, and other service disruptions that affect daily activities.
The statement emphasized the importance of telecommunications services in critical areas such as finance, business, education, healthcare, and social interaction, and thus insisted that improving Quality of Service has remained a major regulatory priority over the past two years.
The Commission assured that it has intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies, while at the same time strengthening data-driven oversight and collaboration with relevant public institutions to tackle structural challenges affecting service delivery.
The statement further said that the telecom sector is currently witnessing one of its largest network expansion and modernisation drives in recent years, following a long period of under-investment.
It noted that in 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to the sector.
According to the Commission, “These investments supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites nationwide to address network coverage and capacity gaps.
“These interventions include the deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, expansion of fibre backhaul capacity, targeted network upgrades in high-demand urban centres, extension of services to underserved communities, and replacement of outdated network equipment,” it stated.
The Commission also stated that the expansion drive continued into 2026, with operators committing to deploy and upgrade over 12,000 telecom sites during the year, adding that nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed, while more than 730 new 5G sites have so far been deployed across 27 states.
The commission declared that to further improve network efficiency, it facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines.
“The move is aimed at enhancing spectral efficiency, increasing network capacity, and improving overall service quality,” the NCC said.
The NCC further described the latest Quality of Service and Experience assessments as indications that gradual improvements are already being recorded in network coverage, capacity, and average internet download speeds across several parts of the country.
The NCC also said that national 4G penetration has increased from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period, just as it reported improved power availability at telecom sites, rising from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent presently.
It added that despite the recorded progress, more work still needs to be done, particularly in areas where consumers continue to experience network congestion, poor call quality, slow data speeds, and unstable connections.
The NCC announced that it is advancing plans to create a wholesale broadband market segment aimed at enabling smaller and community-based Internet Service Providers to expand access and offer more affordable internet services nationwide.
It said the initiative aligns with government-backed projects such as Project BRIDGE and broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The NCC specifically highlighted external factors affecting network performance, including vandalism of telecom infrastructure, fibre cuts caused by road construction, theft of telecom equipment, power-related disruptions, and denial of access to network facilities.
The NCC also noted that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded across the country in 2025 alone as a result of road construction activities and vandalism.
It however, said that 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 the activities of criminal syndicates involved in telecom equipment theft.
It added that as part of measures aimed at improving transparency and consumer protection, operators are now required to notify subscribers promptly whenever major outages occur and restore services within specified timelines, emphasizing that major incidents are being documented on its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
The Commission reiterated in the statement its earlier enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, gazetted in July 2024, adding that operators were granted a transition period to procure and install necessary equipment nationwide, but said that the grace period was not indefinite.
The NCC further said, “Enforcement actions introduced since November 2025 include consumer compensation measures for poor service delivery and additional investment obligations for Tower Companies where performance failures are identified. Operators who fail to deliver measurable improvements risk further regulatory sanctions.”
The Commission applauded the support of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other stakeholders, and called for a collective effort from all levels of government and host communities to protect telecom infrastructure and create an enabling environment for sustained investment in the sector. (GSF)