The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has declared that ongoing efforts by stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to address Quality of Service (QoS) challenges are on course.
It particularly 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.
The NCC which gave the assurance amid growing public concerns over poor network performance in some parts of the country, stressed that consumers deserve reliable and efficient services for their money.
A statement on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs of the NCC, noted the frustrations experienced by consumers due to dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data connections, and other service disruptions affecting daily activities.
The statement observed that telecommunications services have become critical to business, education, healthcare, and social interaction, thus insisted that improving Quality of Service has remained a major regulatory priority over the past two years.
The NCC 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 Commission 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.
The NCC further said 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network upgrades in high-demand urban centres, extension of services to underserved communities, and replacement of outdated network equipment,” it stated.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 NCC also said that the expansion drive has 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 said to further improve network efficiency, it facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines.
According to the NCC; “The move is aimed at enhancing spectral efficiency, increasing network capacity, and improving overall service quality”.
The NCC said its latest Quality of Service and Experience assessments indicated 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.
The Commission howver, said 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 Commission 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 said also said 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.
The Commission said 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, saying that major incidents are being documented on its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
The NCC also announced that enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, gazetted in July 2024, has already commenced, 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”.
While applauding 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, the NCC 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.
