NCC Moves to End Poor Network Service, Warns Telecom Operators of Sanctions

Abuja.

The Nigerian Communications Commission ,NCC,has assured Nigerians that ongoing efforts to address persistent network and internet service challenges across the country are yielding results, even as it warned telecommunications operators that failure to improve service quality could attract stricter regulatory sanctions.

The Commission gave the assurance in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, on Wednesday in Abuja,amid growing complaints by subscribers over dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data connections, and other disruptions affecting communication and business activities nationwide.

According to the NCC, telecommunications services have become essential to modern life, supporting business operations, education, healthcare delivery, and social interaction, adding that Nigerians deserve reliable and efficient services for the money they pay.

The Commission explained that improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained one of its major regulatory priorities over the past two years.

It said it had intensified oversight of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Tower Companies through stricter monitoring, data-driven regulation, and stronger collaboration with public institutions to tackle structural challenges affecting service delivery.

The NCC further disclosed that the telecommunications sector is currently undergoing one of its biggest network expansion and modernisation exercises in recent years following a prolonged period of under-investment.

It revealed that in 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested more than N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support network expansion across the country.

According to the Commission, the investments led to the addition and upgrade of over 2,800 telecom sites nationwide, aimed at improving network coverage and reducing congestion in high-demand areas.

The interventions, the NCC said, include deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, expansion of fibre backhaul capacity, targeted network upgrades in major urban centres, extension of services to underserved communities, and replacement of obsolete network equipment.

The Commission also disclosed that the expansion drive continued into 2026, with operators committing to deploy and upgrade more than 12,000 telecom sites within the year.

It stated that nearly 3,000 sites have already been completed, while over 730 new 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states to strengthen connectivity and improve data services.

To further boost network efficiency, the NCC said it facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines.

According to the Commission, the initiative is expected to improve spectral efficiency, expand network capacity, and enhance the overall quality of telecommunications services across the country.

The NCC also noted that its latest Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments have shown gradual improvements in network performance in several parts of Nigeria.

It explained that national 4G penetration increased from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while median internet download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.

The Commission added that power availability at telecom sites also improved from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent presently.

Despite the progress recorded, the NCC admitted that many subscribers still experience network congestion, poor call quality, slow data speeds, and unstable internet connections in some locations.

The Commission disclosed that it is advancing plans to establish a wholesale broadband market segment that would enable smaller and community-based Internet Service Providers to expand internet access and offer more affordable services nationwide.

According to the NCC, the initiative aligns with government-backed projects such as Project BRIDGE and broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

The Commission, however, identified vandalism, fibre cuts caused by road construction, theft of telecom equipment, power-related disruptions, and denial of access to telecom facilities as major external factors affecting service quality.

It revealed that over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded across Nigeria in 2025 alone, mostly 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 the activities of criminal syndicates involved in telecom infrastructure vandalism and equipment theft.

As part of efforts to improve transparency and consumer protection, the Commission said telecom operators are now required to notify subscribers promptly whenever major outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.

It added that major service disruptions are now being documented on the NCC’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal to ensure accountability.

The Commission also stated that enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, gazetted in July 2024, has commenced, noting that operators had earlier been granted a transition period to procure and install necessary equipment nationwide.

According to the NCC, enforcement measures introduced since November 2025 include compensation for consumers affected by poor service delivery and additional investment obligations for Tower Companies where performance failures are identified.

The Commission warned that operators who fail to deliver measurable improvements in service quality risk further regulatory sanctions.

While commending 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 on governments at all levels and host communities to support efforts aimed at protecting telecom infrastructure and sustaining investments in the sector.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services, insisting that the industry must now deliver visible and measurable improvements that would positively impact consumers and the nation’s economy.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.