The Nigerian Communications Commission has said ongoing investments and regulatory interventions in the telecommunications sector are beginning to improve the quality of service across the country.
The commission, however, admitted that many subscribers still experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, network congestion and unstable data services in some areas.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, on Wednesday, the NCC said improving Quality of Service had remained a major regulatory focus over the past two years.
The commission said Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13tn in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8bn to support expansion efforts nationwide.
According to the NCC, the investments supported the addition and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites across the country to improve network coverage and capacity.
It stated that the interventions included deployment of additional 4G and 5G infrastructure, fibre backhaul expansion, upgrades in high-demand urban areas and rollout of services to underserved communities.
The commission disclosed that operators had also committed to adding or upgrading more than 12,000 telecom sites in 2026, adding that close to 3,000 sites had already been delivered.
It added that over 730 new 5G sites had so far been deployed across 27 states this year.
The NCC further revealed that 4G penetration increased from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while national median download speeds improved from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.
According to the commission, power availability at telecom towers also improved from 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent.
The regulator said it had also facilitated the reallocation and restructuring of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators to improve network efficiency and service performance.
Despite the improvements, the commission noted that external challenges such as fibre cuts, vandalism, theft of telecom equipment and power-related disruptions continued to affect service quality.
It disclosed that over 27,000 fibre-cut incidents linked mainly to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded nationwide in 2025 alone.
The NCC said it was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
The commission also directed operators to notify consumers promptly during major service outages and restore services within specified timelines.
It stated that enforcement of the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 commenced in November 2025, including sanctions and compensation measures where operators failed to meet required standards.
The NCC warned that operators that fail to deliver measurable improvements in service quality would face further regulatory action.
