The communiqué issued following the Nigerian Communications Commission‘s 109th Board Meeting led by Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, held on May 25, 2026, is precisely that kind of document.

Read casually, it looks like a routine institutional update: infrastructure commitments acknowledged, consumer directives reviewed, governance appointments made.

Read carefully, it is something more instructive, a snapshot of a sector that is genuinely investing in its own transformation while simultaneously struggling to enforce the discipline that transformation requires.

Techeconomy reads it both ways. And what emerges from that dual reading is an editorial assessment that is neither triumphalist nor despairing, but honest: Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is moving in the right direction, but the pace, the compliance culture, and the structural dependencies that have historically constrained quality are all still very much in play.

The Infrastructure Story: Real Progress, Real Distance

Start with the numbers that matter most, because they are, in a sector defined by physical infrastructure, the most honest indicator of intent.

Mobile Network Operators have committed to deploying over 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites, with more than 5,000 already completed. Fibre connectivity has been extended to more than 700 sites. Infrastructure sharing companies have deployed new equipment across over 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations.

These are not trivial figures. In a country where network complaints, dropped calls, failed data sessions, inconsistent speeds, have become a near-universal consumer experience, any credible investment at scale deserves acknowledgement.

But context matters. Nigeria’s mobile subscriber base crossed 153 million internet subscriptions in Q1 2026, according to NCC data.

The country’s population is projected to reach 230 million by 2030. Against that backdrop, 12,000 new sites, deployed over an unspecified timeline, with only 40 per cent completed at the time of the communiqué, is a starting point, not a solution.

The gap between infrastructure supply and subscriber demand in Nigeria has been a structural feature of the sector for over a decade. Closing it will require not one investment cycle but sustained, compounding deployment over several years.

The fibre story is even more revealing. FTTH connections grew from 84,141 subscribers in Q4 2025 to 210,065 in Q5 2025, a doubling in a single quarter that represents genuine momentum.

But 210,065 homes connected to fibre in a country of over 200 million people is, by any measure, the very beginning of a journey rather than evidence of arrival. South Africa, a comparable emerging market, had surpassed 1.5 million FTTH subscribers by 2024. Kenya’s fibre rollout, though still modest by global standards, has expanded at a pace that Nigeria is only now beginning to approach.

The NCC Board is right to identify the structural dependency on mobile connectivity as the core constraint.

Nigeria’s broadband architecture has been built almost entirely on mobile infrastructure, a foundation that works adequately at lower subscriber densities and data consumption levels, but buckles under the combined pressure of rising users, growing video consumption, and the bandwidth demands of an increasingly digital economy.

Fixed fibre is not a luxury upgrade. It is the architecture that a one trillion dollar economy requires as its connective tissue.

The regulatory direction is correct. The pace must accelerate.

Quality of Service: The Compensation Numbers Tell a Complicated Story

The most striking figure in the communiqué is the one that should also be the most uncomfortable: over 75 million subscribers were offered compensation for poor Quality of Service experiences.

Seventy-five million people! In a country with approximately 153 million mobile internet subscriptions, that figure means that roughly one in two Nigerian internet subscribers was, by the NCC’s own regulatory assessment, receiving service that fell below the prescribed standard.

The NCC and the operators would frame the compensation directive as a consumer protection success, and in procedural terms, they are not wrong. Full operator compliance with a directive that acknowledges service failures and puts money back toward affected subscribers is a meaningful regulatory intervention, and one that many other African telecoms regulators have not attempted at this scale.

But the more important question is not whether compensation was paid. It is what the need for compensation at this volume reveals about the baseline quality of service that Nigerian subscribers have been receiving.

A sector in which half the subscriber base qualifies for compensation is a sector with a structural quality problem, not a temporary service disruption.

The NCC’s own QoS enforcement data has consistently shown metrics falling below benchmark in key categories. Call drop rates, data throughput speeds, and network availability figures across multiple operators have periodically missed the Commission’s prescribed thresholds.

The compensation directive was a consequence of those failures. The 75 million figure is their scale.

Addressing this requires more than compensation. It requires the infrastructure investment noted elsewhere in the communiqué, plus the enforcement rigour to ensure that operators do not treat regulatory fines as an acceptable cost of underperformance, and that TowerCos, who have so far only partially complied with the escrow reinvestment directive, complete their obligations in full.

The NCC Board’s language on TowerCo compliance is notably firm, emphasising “the importance of full compliance to ensure that the intended infrastructure improvements are realised sustainably.” That firmness should be matched by consequences if partial compliance persists. Regulatory emphasis without regulatory consequence is, over time, indistinguishable from tolerance.

Vandalism: An Underreported Crisis Demanding a Structural Response

Of all the issues documented in the communiqué, infrastructure vandalism may be the one that receives the least public attention relative to the damage it causes.

The Board’s acknowledgement that vandalism “has continued to hamper industry growth” is not a new observation. It is a recurring feature of every serious assessment of Nigeria’s telecoms sector, and its cost is measurable.

Industry estimates have placed annual losses from telecoms infrastructure vandalism in Nigeria in the range of tens of billions of naira, factoring in damaged equipment, stolen cables, repair costs, and the service disruptions that follow. Those costs ultimately flow through to consumers in the form of higher prices and degraded service, and to investors in the form of reduced returns that dampen appetite for further capital deployment.

The designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure was a significant policy step. The involvement of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps signals appropriate institutional engagement.

But the Board’s own communiqué acknowledges that these measures have not been sufficient, calling for greater collaboration and exploring the feasibility of a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund.

That Trust Fund concept deserves serious, fast-tracked development. A dedicated, industry-funded financial mechanism for infrastructure security, with clear governance, measurable deployment targets, and accountability for outcomes, would represent a structural response to what has so far received only reactive treatment.

The conversation about feasibility needs to move quickly to the conversation about design and implementation.

Every base station vandalised and every fibre cable stolen is not merely an operator’s problem. It is a national infrastructure failure, one that delays Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions as surely as any regulatory gap or investment shortfall.

Zero-Rating Education: A Framework Still Waiting to Be Built

The Board’s assessment of progress toward a zero-rating framework for educational platforms and content reveals something that should concern Nigeria’s digital inclusion advocates: the process is still in the engagement and framework-development stage.

This matters because the need is urgent and the opportunity cost of delay is high. Nigeria has over 17 million out-of-school children, according to UNICEF data.

Internet penetration in rural areas remains dramatically lower than in urban centres, a digital divide that maps almost perfectly onto educational disadvantage.

Zero-rating educational platforms, making access to learning content free of data charges, is one of the most direct, cost-effective policy interventions available for closing that divide.

Other markets have moved faster. In South Africa, the regulatory framework enabling zero-rated educational access was activated during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been maintained and expanded since. In Rwanda, government-led digital education initiatives backed by zero-rating commitments from operators have contributed to measurable improvements in digital literacy outcomes.

Nigeria’s framework is still being discussed. The NCC and the industry are still determining “the best approach.”

Techeconomy’s position is direct: the approach matters less than the speed of arrival. A framework that launches with imperfect parameters and is refined in practice is more valuable than a perfect framework that has not yet been built.

The urban-rural digital divide does not wait for framework consultations to conclude.

Assessment

The 109th Board communiqué of the NCC captures a sector at an inflection point. The investments are real. The regulatory interventions are serious.

The directional choices, fibre over mobile-only, fixed broadband over perpetual congestion, consumer accountability over passive tolerance of poor service, are correct.

But inflection points are defined by what happens next, not by what has been committed. Nigeria’s telecoms sector has a well-documented history of good frameworks that lose momentum in execution, of policies that are correctly designed and inconsistently delivered, of investment commitments that fall short of completion, of regulatory directives that produce partial compliance and limited consequence.

The NCC Board appears aware of this history. Its language throughout the communiqué is notably outcome-focused rather than process-focused, emphasising execution, full compliance, measurable outcomes, and sustainable delivery. That framing is encouraging. It must now be matched by the enforcement architecture to make it real.

Seventy-five million subscribers deserving compensation is not a statistic to be managed. It is a mandate to be answered. Twelve thousand sites committed is not a headline to be celebrated. It is a deadline to be met. A Communications Industry Security Trust Fund proposed is not a solution achieved. It is a design brief to be executed.

Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions are large, the timeline is tight, and the infrastructure upon which everything else depends is still being built. The NCC has, in this communiqué, documented both how far the sector has come and how much further it needs to go.

Techeconomy’s call is simple: Close the gap between commitment and delivery, and do it faster than the last decade suggested was possible.

This editorial reflects the independent position of TechEconomy.ng on issues affecting Nigeria’s digital economy and telecommunications sector. It is informed by the communiqué issued following the NCC’s 109th Board Meeting on May 25, 2026, and by publicly available industry data from the NCC, GSMA, UNICEF, and regional telecoms market reports.

This is even as the firm reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government and stakeholders in building a resilient communication infrastructure landscape.

Mr. Sadisu Jubrin, the director of Administration Operations at IHS, who stated this, called for a holistic and sustainable strategy to safeguard the country’s critical communications infrastructure.

Jubrin noted that legislation alone is not enough to address persistent cases of infrastructure theft and vandalism.

Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholder collaborative event organized by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) and the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) with the theme: ‘Critical National ICT Infrastructure and Industry Sustainability – Way Forward,’ Jubrin said IHS Nigeria advocates a multi-faceted approach, including public awareness, technological innovation, and strong partnerships with security agencies and local communities.

According to him, IHS Nigeria has strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) via a joint national advocacy campaign on radio and digital platforms.

“The campaign educates host communities on vandalism dangers and how damaged infrastructure affects businesses, including access to finance through Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.

“We must empower our communities to become the first line of defence against infrastructure sabotage,” he said.

Jubrin highlighted the importance of helping locals realise how stolen batteries or fibre directly impact their daily lives negatively.

To bolster physical security, IHS Nigeria recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The partnership aims to improve site surveillance, emergency response, and ensure prosecution of those involved in vandalism.

Jubrin explained that IHS uses remote monitoring and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time surveillance of its infrastructure assets. He said this technology helps detect unauthorised access, predict maintenance needs, and reduce physical site visits.

He also noted that IHS Nigeria has also launched community protection programmes in key areas to protect essential hub sites.

“This initiative instils local ownership and provides employment opportunities for community members,” he said.

Jubrin emphasised that the success of these efforts depends on strong partnerships with key stakeholders.

He revealed that IHS Nigeria has teamed up with G4S to deploy 650 rapid response patrol vehicles nationwide. These vehicles are fitted with communication systems connected directly to the network operations centre for swift incident response.

The IHS representative urged operators, regulators, security agencies, and citizens to act on the recent NCC executive order without delay.

Speaking as a panellist, Associate Director, Government Relations, IHS Towers, Bond Abbe, stressed the importance of collaboration in cutting to the barest minimum, rising cases of vandalism.

According to Abbe, stakeholders, including government, security agencies, towercos (Tower companies) and telcos must come together to fight the menace, stressing that the crisis is becoming a major threat to an efficient telecom sector.

Saying that IHS has never for one day relented in providing security at its over 16, 000 towers and 15,000km of fibre across Nigeria, Abbe said promoting the development of critical national infrastructure remains a major task.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, made the remark at the launch of Nigeria Digital Economy report by the GSMA, recently.

The EVC said the review of Quality of Service Regulations by the NCC will incorporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the fifth-generation technology (5G) and include KPIs for the Colocation Service Providers (TowerCos).

NCC’s key performance indicators (KPIs) for the quality of service (QoS) of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks in Nigeria cover Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), and Stand-alone Dedicated Channel (SDCCH).

Speaking further on “Regulatory Innovations to Empowering Nigeria’s Digital Future”, Aminu Maida said that the Commission has embarked upon a number of advocacy initiatives to address long-term challenges in the sector, such as;

“Advocacy for the designation of Communications Infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure to ensure their protection and resilience;

Right of Way (RoW)

“The Commission vide its advocacy has succeeded in persuading (6) six states to waive their Right of Way charges. Adamawa is the latest state to waive RoW. A significant number of states have also adopted the harmonized charge of N145 per linear meter.

Multiple taxation

“Advocacy is ongoing with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms towards addressing multiple taxation issues and streamlining the tax regime for the telecoms sector in Nigeria”, he said.

The chief telecoms regulator of Nigeria also said that NCC has made crucial regulatory innovation that is Data-Centric.

He said the Commission has developed a Data Collection Framework which guides the collection of data on issues such as Quality of Service, Consumer complaints among others.

“This data is providing the Commission with the requisite insights to make timely, optimal and informed regulatory decisions.

“Through analysis of performance data submitted by operators, the Commission has been able to narrow down on some of the issues affecting Quality of Service, and is addressing this with operators.

“With Data available, the Commission has also been able to establish that Tower Sites that use renewable energy solutions perform better than those using fossil energy sources.

“Through this Data centric approach NCC has been able to get insights from across the entire value chain to identify problem areas for optimal and timely interventions for improving the overall user experience.

“The Commission is undertaking a review of its Regulatory Instruments and licensing framework to ensure that they are in line with the current realities. E.g.: Review of Quality of Service Regulations to incorporate KPIs for 5G and include KPIs for the Colocation Service Providers (TowerCos)”, Aminu Maida said.

Countries like America, China, and others have thrived due to the emergence of SMEs, while the poverty in many developing nations can be linked to the neglect of these crucial entities.

Before 2000, small businesses in countries like Nigeria were hindered by their limited reach, unable to compete with larger corporations employing traditional advertising methods such as billboards, radio, and print media.

The untapped potential of SMEs, capable of significantly boosting a nation’s economy, remained hidden. It is essential to understand that SMEs are fundamental to economic growth in Nigeria, employing 90% of the workforce and accounting for 90% of businesses.

The frustration of having potential without a platform, is higher in comparison to having no potential at all.

The challenges faced by SME owners during an era when communications infrastructure to support their businesses was non-existent, are now unconceivable.

The Game Changer

The emergence of the communications infrastructure industry, notably tower companies (towerCos), which host mobile network operators’ (MNOs) equipment, introduced a new dimension to the nation’s economic landscape.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the first quarter of 2023, the telecom industry contributed N2.508 trillion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), representing 14.13% of the total GDP.

As of May 2023, active voice subscriptions had reached 221.3 million, equivalent to a teledensity of 115%, while internet subscriptions had risen to 160 million. On a global scale, the telecommunications market was valued at USD$1,700 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to USD$3102 billion by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.2% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

The core of this economic transformation lies in the range of communications infrastructure spread across the nation and globally.

Despite facing macroeconomic challenges, multiple taxation, landlord activities, and local community issues, towercos continue to be the bedrock of the nation’s GDP growth.

Nigeria’s economic ascent was largely made possible by the sustained investments and efforts of companies managing communications infrastructure, such as IHS Towers, a company that originated in Nigeria and which today is one of the largest independent multinational towerCos globally.

In this fast-paced 21st century, supporting and preserving communications infrastructure to foster digital growth, the enabler of economic prosperity, should be a central focus for every government.

It’s hard to imagine how we lived before the advent of telecommunications and its towers. I remember traveling from Lagos to Ilorin for school in the 90’s with no means to contact my family at home, no internet, no social media, and no email.

Back then, we relied on writing letters and sending them by snail mail or telephone calls using phone services provided by the sole telecommunications company at the time, Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which often meant enduring long queues and still not getting reliable network.

Today, we not only have access to telecommunications, but also to the widespread towers that allow MNOs to collocate their equipment on towers owned by towercos, extending coverage to regions where SMEs domicile, providing both data and voice services, and other value-added services.

Towercos have successfully connected people from various walks of life, boosting their economies, providing access to jobs, and creating employment.

Meeting people online, across the globe, is now easier with the help of communications infrastructure.

These towercos contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, social connectivity, innovation, global engagement, gender inclusion, and diversity.

They have phenomenally increased the scope of the value chain of telecommunications services and other businesses across Nigeria.

To speak to the value chain that towercos provide, using IHS Towers’ operations in Nigeria as an example, as at September 2023, the company is stated to own over 16,000 towers, have circa 1,200 direct employees, 40,000 indirect employees, generate over 250MW of electricity collectively to power its sites, move circa 1,500 trucks across the country monthly for its logistics operations, occupies circa 3.6 million square meters of land for its operations across the country and utilizes over 3 million liters of diesel annually to power its sites.

The jobs created across these various enterprises have significant impact on the nation and its economy.

The company recently announced a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to provide training in technical skills to 3 million Nigerians.

The potential impact of this alone could be hugely significant for the Nigerian economy.

In recent years, the role of communications infrastructure in promoting the growth of SMEs has become increasingly evident.

The former Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria and now a board member and Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, in an interview granted to CNBC Africa in 2015, recounted that towercos, like IHS Towers, enable the achievement of faster and better economic roll-out.

This she said, is highly valuable to the MNOs that partner with such towerCos to bring connectivity to less accessible and more rural areas, spurring economic activities in low-income communities while looking beyond profitability.

The Digital Transformation of SMEs

Communications infrastructure is the linchpin facilitating the digital transformation of SMEs. SMEs now have unique opportunities to scale their operations, access new markets, and streamline their business processes through high-speed internet access, mobile connectivity, and reliable networks. The advantages are immense:

Market Accessibility: Communications infrastructure enables businesses to tap into a broader customer base and offer services on a global scale.

The entertainment industry, a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, owes much of its success to the opportunities created by this infrastructure.

Through e-commerce platforms, online marketplaces, and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, SMEs enabled by this infrastructure can reach not only local, but also national and international customers.

Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication is vital for any business. Telecommunications tools such as emails, instant messaging, and video conferencing enable SMEs to connect with customers, partners, and suppliers seamlessly.

Online collaborations among businesses in Nigeria have led to a broader audience and more efficient collaboration and decision-making.

Access to Information: The internet provides SMEs with access to a vast pool of information, market data, insights, and trends.

This knowledge empowers SMEs to make informed decisions, adapt to changing market conditions, and stay competitive.

Cost Efficiency: Telecommunications has significantly reduced operational costs. Cloud-based services, for instance, allow SMEs to access software and infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis, eliminating the need for costly on-premises solutions.

Innovation and Automation: Communications infrastructure supports SMEs in automating various aspects of their operations. This automation not only improves efficiency but also frees up resources for innovation.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the benefits of communications infrastructure for SMEs are substantial, there are challenges to consider:

Infrastructure Gaps: Bridging infrastructure gaps, such as limited access to high-speed internet and mobile connectivity in many regions of Nigeria, is essential to ensure that all SMEs can benefit.

Cybersecurity: SMEs may lack the resources to implement robust cybersecurity measures, making them vulnerable to online scammers and hackers. Raising awareness and providing support for cybersecurity are crucial.

Digital Skills: SMEs need training and a supportive environment to develop digital skills among their workforce. Training and education programs can address this gap.

Regulation and Policies: Clear and supportive regulatory frameworks that avoid multiple taxations are necessary to encourage investments in communications infrastructure and protect the interests of SMEs.

Conclusion

Communications infrastructure is a transformative tool for SMEs and not just a utility device. It opens doors to a world of opportunities, enabling them to compete in local and global markets, improve efficiency, and foster innovation.

To ensure the continued growth of SMEs in Nigeria, investments in communications infrastructure, along with supportive policies and initiatives, are paramount.

Collaborative efforts from the government, industry, and SMEs themselves can help pave the way for a brighter economic future, where SMEs continue to thrive and contribute to national development.

*Babajide Areola, Financial Analyst, writes from Abuja.

Chaired by Dr. Augustine Nwaulune, NCC’s Director of Digital Economy, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), and Tower Companies (TowerCos) as members, the Committee, christened the National Broadband Infrastructure Joint Committee (NBIJC), is saddled with the responsibility of supporting the drive towards the realisation of the NCB targets, as outlined in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025.

Director of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Josephine Amuwa, who presided over the inauguration on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, in Abuja recently, said the emergence of the Committee was informed by the need to inject a broad-based industry approach to address challenges impeding the actualisation of broadband targets.

https://techeconomy.ng/2022/06/ncc-in-talks-with-foreign-coy-for-broadband-infrastructure-grants-danbatta/

Danbatta said the Committee is expected to drive the targets set by the NNBP, including deployment of 120,000 kilometer of fibre across the country; deepening of broadband penetration to 70 per cent by 2025; and connection of 60 per cent of Communication towers with fibre; among other targets, as stipulated in its approved Terms of Reference (ToR).

The EVC stated, “I appreciate your willingness and readiness to make a considerable investment of time and talent to participate in this Committee. We appreciate that you will provide an invaluable perspective as we seek to address gaps impeding the actualisation of the NCB and NNBP initiatives.”

“The depth and scope of experiences represented by the broad spectrum of this Committee’s membership will, no doubt, provide the Commission with much-needed insight and drive to overcome the challenges facing broadband infrastructure deployment in the country, and even exceed the current set targets.”

Following its inauguration, the Committee held its maiden meeting that discussed the frequency of meetings and other critical issues considered relevant to deliver on its ToR.

The Committee’s six-point ToR include: enhancing collaboration between MNOs and InfraCos towards achieving target of the NCB of the NNBP 2020-2025; and to design an NCB network architecture and harmonized comprehensive plan that will create a more viable business case that will attract investors, establish synergy between the MNOs and the InfraCos, and facilitate infrastructure deployment.

The Committee, in collaboration with the Commission, is also expected to organize an NCB financing workshop and invite all the major financial institutions, MNOs and InfraCos, and present the project, estimated at N800 billion, for adoption and financing.

Equally, the Committee is mandated to initiate engagements with identified sources of funding including Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among others.