Telecom companies pour N2.5 trillion into network upgrades amid ongoing concerns over subpar connectivity – NCC

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has said mobile network operators and tower companies invested about N2.5tn in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025 amid growing complaints by Nigerians over dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data services, and network disruptions across parts of the country.

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The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha.

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According to the NCC, “In 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13tn in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies invested an additional N373.8bn across the sector.”

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The regulator said the investments supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide, helping to address coverage and capacity gaps in several locations.

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The commission acknowledged growing public concerns over poor telecom service delivery, stating that consumers had continued to experience frustrations due to service instability and poor network performance.

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“The Commission recognises the frustration experienced by consumers when calls drop, internet speeds slow down, data services become unstable, or service disruptions affect daily activities,” the statement read.

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It added that telecommunications services had become central to how Nigerians work, learn, do business, access essential services, and stay connected, stressing that consumers were entitled to reliable services and value for money.

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The NCC said improving Quality of Service had remained one of its major regulatory priorities over the past two years, adding that it had intensified monitoring of mobile network operators, internet service providers, and tower companies.

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According to the commission, the telecom sector is currently undergoing one of its most extensive network expansion and modernisation cycles in recent years, following what it described as a prolonged period of under-investment.

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It stated that the ongoing interventions included deploying faster 4G and 5G infrastructure on existing sites, expanding fibre backhaul systems to improve network resilience and site capacity, targeting a rollout in high-demand urban centres, expanding into underserved communities, and replacing ageing network equipment.

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“These investments are welcome, but the Commission’s expectation is that they must translate into visible and measurable service improvements for consumers,” the NCC stated.

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The commission disclosed that the network expansion drive had continued in 2026 in response to rising data consumption and the rapid evolution of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

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It noted that operators had committed to adding and upgrading over 12,000 telecom sites in 2026, with nearly 3,000 already completed. The regulator also revealed that more than 730 additional 5G sites had been deployed across 27 states this year.

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The NCC further stated that it had facilitated the reallocation of idle and underutilised radio spectrum among the three major mobile network operators in line with its Spectrum Trading Guidelines.

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It explained that the spectrum rearrangement was intended to improve spectral efficiency, increase network capacity, and enhance overall service performance.

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According to the commission, its Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments conducted through crowdsourced and field-based analytics showed gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity, and average download speeds in several parts of the country.

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The NCC disclosed that 4G penetration increased from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while national median download speeds rose from 16.5 megabits per second to 20 megabits per second within the same period.

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It also stated that power availability at telecom towers improved from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent currently.

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The commission, however, admitted that the pace and consistency of service quality improvement must increase, particularly in areas where subscribers still experience poor call quality, congestion, and slow internet speeds.

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In line with the Federal Government’s policy to deepen fibre penetration across homes, schools, businesses, and public institutions, the NCC said it was conducting a market study to create a wholesale market segment to support smaller and localised internet service providers.

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The regulator noted that the initiative would complement government-backed projects, including Project BRIDGE and other programmes to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

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The NCC also attributed poor network performance to persistent infrastructure challenges, including frequent fibre cuts, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, theft at network sites, power-related disruptions, and denial of access for maintenance operations.

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

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According to the commission, the incidents directly affected service availability, network performance, and consumer experience.

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The regulator said it was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to implement the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure.

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It added that the collaboration had helped disrupt organised syndicates involved in the theft and resale of telecom equipment, while engagements with federal and state ministries of works were ongoing to reduce fibre cuts caused by road construction.

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To improve transparency, the NCC stated that operators had been directed to notify consumers whenever major network outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.

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The commission added that details of major incidents were being logged on its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.

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The regulator also said it had continued to hold operators accountable under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, which were gazetted in July 2024.

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According to the NCC, operators and tower companies were initially granted a transition period to order, ship, and install equipment required to improve service quality nationwide, but the period was not indefinite.

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The commission disclosed that enforcement of the regulations commenced in November 2025, including consumer compensation measures for poor service quality and additional investment obligations for tower companies where performance failures were identified.

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“This enforcement will continue, and where operators fail to deliver measurable improvements, the Commission will take appropriate regulatory action, including escalation where necessary,” the statement added.

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The NCC commended the Federal 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.

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The commission also called on federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities, to support efforts to protect telecom infrastructure, facilitate access for maintenance operations, and create an enabling environment for sustained investment in the sector.

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It reiterated its commitment to ensuring reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services for Nigerians, stressing that operators must now deliver measurable improvements in service quality.

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The PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government warned telecommunications operators that they could face regulatory sanctions if they fail to improve service quality across the country, saying Nigerians must begin to receive value for money spent on telecom services.

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The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said this in a recent statement, stressing that the NCC had been empowered to enforce industry standards and hold operators accountable for poor performance.

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