NCC assures Nigerians of Improved Telecom Services amid rising complaints

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that ongoing efforts to improve the quality of telecommunications services across the country are on course, amid growing public concerns over poor network performance, dropped calls, and unstable internet services.

In a statement issued on May 13, 2026, by the Head of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, the Commission acknowledged the frustrations faced by telecom consumers who continue to experience slow internet speeds, call disruptions, and unreliable data connections.

According to the NCC, telecommunications services have become essential to daily life, affecting how Nigerians work, learn, conduct business, and access important services. The Commission stressed that consumers deserve reliable services and value for the money they spend on telecom products.

The regulator disclosed that improving Quality of Service (QoS) has remained one of its major priorities over the past two years, leading to intensified monitoring of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies.

The NCC explained that the telecom sector is currently witnessing one of its biggest network expansion and modernisation programmes in recent years following a prolonged period of under-investment.

According to the Commission, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025 alone, while Tower Companies added another N373.8 billion in investments across the industry.

The investments reportedly supported the construction and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide, helping to address network coverage gaps and improve service capacity in several locations.

The Commission said the upgrades include the deployment of faster 4G and 5G technologies, expansion of fibre infrastructure, deployment of additional equipment in high-demand urban areas, and improved connectivity in underserved communities.

The NCC also revealed that the network expansion drive has continued into 2026, with telecom operators committing to the addition and upgrade of over 12,000 sites within the year.

According to the regulator, nearly 3,000 of those sites have already been completed, while more than 730 additional 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states so far in 2026.

The Commission further disclosed that Nigeria’s 4G penetration has risen from 45 percent in January 2024 to 54 percent currently, while national median internet download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps during the same period.

Power supply reliability at telecom towers also improved from a national average of 99.3 percent in January 2025 to 99.7 percent currently, according to the statement.

Despite the progress, the NCC admitted that many consumers still experience poor network quality, congestion, slow internet speeds, and service instability in several areas of the country.

The regulator noted that external challenges such as vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of telecom equipment, and power disruptions continue to affect network performance.

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

To tackle the problem, the Commission said it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to protect telecommunications infrastructure under the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure.

The NCC also stated that it has directed telecom operators to promptly inform consumers whenever major service outages occur and restore affected services within specified timeframes.

The Commission warned that operators who fail to deliver measurable improvements in service quality would face stricter regulatory actions under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024.

According to the NCC, enforcement actions already commenced in November 2025, including consumer compensation measures and additional investment obligations for underperforming companies.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians enjoy affordable, reliable, and high-quality telecommunications services while urging governments, communities, and stakeholders to support efforts aimed at protecting telecom infrastructure nationwide.