Telcos deploy 8,526 network sites despite fibre cuts — NCC

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Mobile network operators in Nigeria have deployed 8,526 of 12,179 committed coverage and capacity sites across the country, as fibre cuts continue to disrupt telecommunications services, the Nigerian Communications Commission said.

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The deployment represents about 70 per cent of the commitments made by operators and marks a significant increase from the approximately 5,000 sites reported at the previous meeting of the commission’s board.

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In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, on Sunday, the telecom regulator said the progress was recorded at the 110th board meeting held on September 9.

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“The board further noted that 8,526 out of the 12,179 committed coverage and capacity sites have now been deployed across the country, representing approximately 70 per cent of the communicated commitments.

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“This reflects accelerated progress from the approximately 5,000 sites reported at the last meeting”, the commission said.

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The increase comes as operators continue to expand network capacity to improve coverage and service quality, although damage to fibre infrastructure has emerged as a growing threat to network reliability.

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The NCC said fibre cuts contributed to a sharp rise in network disruptions in June, highlighting the need to protect existing infrastructure alongside efforts to expand the network.

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“Despite this progress, the board noted that fibre cuts contributed to a sharp rise in network disruptions in June, underscoring the need for infrastructure expansion to be matched by stronger protection of critical communications infrastructure,” it stated.

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Fibre optic networks carry large volumes of telecommunications traffic and damage to the infrastructure can disrupt voice and data services across affected areas.

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The NCC had previously raised concerns over thousands of fibre cuts linked to road construction and excavation activities. More than 5,000 fibre cuts were recorded in the first half of 2026, according to earlier warnings from the regulator.

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At its previous board meeting, the NCC reported that operators had deployed more than 5,000 of the over 12,000 sites committed for network expansion, putting implementation at more than 40 per cent. The latest figure indicates that about 3,500 additional sites have been deployed since then.

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The regulator said the latest discussions also focused on network resilience, digital trust, inclusive connectivity, consumer protection, fair competition and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

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The NCC’s latest position suggests that while operators are making progress with network expansion, protecting fibre and other critical telecommunications infrastructure remains essential to translating new capacity into more reliable services for consumers.

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