According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites, with over 5,000 already completed, representing approximately 41.7 per cent of the rollout programme.

The NCC’s Governing Board acknowledged the investment commitments at its 109th meeting held on May 25, 2026, describing the deployment programme as a significant step toward improving subscriber experience across the country.

The Commission said the investment is expected to enhance network coverage, increase capacity and improve the overall Quality of Experience for subscribers.

Beyond the sites themselves, fibre connectivity has been extended to more than 700 locations, strengthening network backhaul capacity and improving resilience across the transmission infrastructure layer, a critical but often invisible component of mobile network performance.

Infrastructure sharing companies have also contributed to the expansion drive, deploying new equipment across more than 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations to support operators’ coverage obligations and improve compliance with the NCC’s Quality of Service standards.

The infrastructure push comes against a backdrop of sustained subscriber growth and rising data consumption, which have together exposed the fragility of a network architecture still heavily dependent on mobile connectivity rather than fixed broadband.

The NCC has been explicit that infrastructure investment is not discretionary, it is a regulatory obligation, and the Board’s acknowledgement of operator commitments at the 109th meeting reflects both progress made and the distance still to travel before Nigerian consumers experience consistently reliable connectivity.

Recall, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy had declared that the conditions necessary for improved telecom service delivery in Nigeria have now been established, placing renewed responsibility on network operators to significantly improve quality of service across the country or face sanctions, Techeconomy can report.

Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, made the declaration in his LinkedIn post on ‘telecom service quality’, in which the Federal Government acknowledged that Nigeria’s connectivity challenges were largely structural, driven by years of underinvestment in digital infrastructure and operational constraints affecting telecom operators.

The Commission stated that subscribers should not bear the burden of service failures where operators fall short of prescribed Quality of Service (QoS) standards.

In a similar tone, the regulator admitted that many Nigerians continue to experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, unstable data services, and network disruptions affecting daily activities.

In a statement signed by Nnenna Ukoha, head of Public Affairs at NCC, she said that telecommunications services have become central to business operations, education, healthcare access, financial services, and social connectivity, making reliable service delivery a critical expectation for consumers.

The NCC disclosed that improving Quality of Service has remained one of its top regulatory priorities over the past two years, with increased monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, and Tower Companies.

The Commission said the telecom sector is currently undergoing one of its largest infrastructure expansion and modernization phases in recent years following what it described as a prolonged period of under-investment.

According to the statement, Mobile Network Operators invested over N2.13 trillion in network infrastructure and upgrades in 2025, while Tower Companies invested an additional N373.8 billion across the sector.

The investments supported the deployment and upgrade of more than 2,800 telecom sites nationwide, aimed at addressing network congestion, coverage gaps, and capacity challenges in several parts of the country.

The regulator explained that the interventions include expansion of 4G and 5G services, fibre backhaul deployment, network equipment upgrades, and targeted expansion into underserved communities.

“This expansion drive is continuing in 2026 in response to Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and the exponential growth in data consumption,” Nnenna Ukoha stated.

The Commission revealed that operators have already committed to deploying or upgrading over 12,000 telecom sites in 2026, with nearly 3,000 sites already delivered.

It also disclosed that more than 730 additional 5G sites have been deployed across 27 states this year alone as part of efforts to strengthen next-generation connectivity infrastructure.

According to the NCC, its Quality of Service assessments show gradual improvements in network capacity, broadband coverage, and average internet speeds across parts of the country.

The Commission stated that national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps in January 2024 to 20Mbps currently, while 4G penetration rose from 45 percent to 54 percent within the same period.

Power availability at telecom tower sites also improved from a national average of 99.3 percent in January 2025 to 99.7 percent currently.

However, the regulator acknowledged that network quality challenges remain in several locations where subscribers continue to experience congestion, poor call quality, and slow internet speeds.

The NCC attributed many of the persistent service disruptions to external challenges such as vandalism, fibre cuts, theft of telecom equipment, power-related issues, and denial of access for maintenance operations.

According to the Commission, Nigeria recorded over 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents in 2025 alone, largely linked to road construction activities and vandalism.

The regulator said it is currently working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to operationalize the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure in order to better protect telecom assets nationwide.

The NCC also revealed that operators are now required to notify consumers whenever major service outages occur and restore affected services within specified timelines.

Major outages are being tracked through the Commission’s Major Network Outages Reporting Portal.

The Commission further disclosed that enforcement actions under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024 commenced in November 2025 after operators were given a transition period to improve infrastructure nationwide.

According to the regulator, the enforcement measures include consumer compensation for poor service quality and additional investment obligations for Tower Companies where performance failures are identified.

“The expectation is clear: the industry must now deliver measurable improvements, and the Commission will continue to enforce compliance in the interest of consumers and the wider economy,” Nnenna Ukoha said.

The Commission also called on federal, state, and local governments, as well as host communities, to support efforts aimed at protecting telecommunications infrastructure and enabling sustained investment in the sector.