By Dickson Pat
Nigerian Communications Commission ,NCC, has disclosed that telecommunications operators invested more than N2.5 trillion in network infrastructure in 2025 as the regulator moved to tackle worsening service quality complaints across the country.
The commission said Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades last year, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support expansion and modernisation efforts across the sector.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NCC and signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha.
The statement read, “The sector is currently undergoing one of its most extensive network expansion and modernisation cycles in recent years, following a prolonged period of under-investment. In 2025 alone, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades, while Tower Companies invested an additional N373.8 billion across the sector”.
According to the Commission, the investments supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide to address network congestion, coverage gaps and capacity challenges in several locations.
The regulator acknowledged increasing public dissatisfaction over dropped calls, unstable Internet connectivity, slow data speeds and recurring service disruptions, noting that telecommunications services had become critical to business operations, education, financial transactions and access to essential services.
“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 noted.
The NCC stated that improving Quality of Service had remained a major regulatory priority over the past two years through intensified monitoring of telecom operators, internet service providers and tower firms, alongside stronger data-driven oversight mechanisms.
The Commission said the network expansion programme was continuing in 2026 as operators respond to rising demand for digital services and growing data consumption across Nigeria.
According to the NCC, industry players have already committed to adding and upgrading more than 12,000 telecom sites this year, with close to 3,000 sites already delivered.
The regulator also disclosed that over 730 additional 5G sites had already been deployed across 27 states in 2026 as part of efforts to accelerate next-generation connectivity nationwide.
It said recent interventions included deployment of additional 4G and 5G layers on existing infrastructure, fibre backhaul expansion, targeted upgrades in high-demand urban centres, rollout into underserved communities and replacement of ageing network equipment.
The Commission added that it had facilitated the reallocation of idle and underutilised spectrum among the three major mobile network operators under its Spectrum Trading Guidelines to improve network efficiency and service performance.
According to the NCC, ongoing Quality of Service and Quality of Experience assessments indicate gradual improvement in network performance nationwide.
The Commission said 4G penetration rose from 45% in January 2024 to 54% currently, while national median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.
It also noted that power availability at telecom towers improved from a national average of 99.3% in January 2025 to 99.7% currently.
Despite the improvements, the NCC admitted that several areas across the country still experience poor call quality, congestion, unstable connections and slow internet speeds.
The regulator revealed that it had commenced enforcement actions against operators that fail to meet service quality standards under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024.
According to the Commission, enforcement began in November 2025 after operators were granted a transition period to procure and install new equipment nationwide.
The NCC said the enforcement measures include consumer compensation for poor service quality and additional investment obligations on Tower Companies where operational failures are identified.
“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.
The Commission also identified persistent fibre cuts, vandalism, equipment theft, power disruptions and denial of maintenance access as major external threats affecting service delivery.
It disclosed that more than 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025, largely linked to road construction activities and vandalism.
The NCC said it was collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and disrupt organised telecom equipment theft syndicates.
It added that engagement with federal and state ministries of works was ongoing to reduce fibre damage caused by road projects.
The regulator further stated that operators had now been mandated to notify subscribers whenever major service outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.
The Commission said details of such incidents would also be published on its Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.
The NCC also disclosed that it was conducting a market study aimed at creating a wholesale broadband market segment to support smaller internet service providers and lower internet access costs in line with the Federal Government’s digital infrastructure expansion agenda.
Following the approval of 50% tariff adjustment for telecom operators early last year, NCC said the operators had invested over $1 billion in infrastructure to boost network capacity.
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.
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.
The NCC added that enforcement actions under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 began in November 2025, including compensation measures for consumers affected by poor service quality and additional obligations for Tower Companies that fail to meet performance standards.
“The expectation is clear: the industry must now deliver measurable improvements”, the Commission said, warning that operators who fail to improve service quality could face further regulatory sanctions.
The NCC earlier said telecoms have committed to upgrading 12,000 sites this year to improve service quality across the country
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