News Highlights:
- Over 75 million telecom subscribers compensated for poor service quality
- NCC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding fibre infrastructure and strengthening network resilience
The Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended ongoing investments by telecommunications operators aimed at improving network coverage, service quality and digital connectivity across the country, while also calling for stronger compliance with regulatory directives designed to enhance consumer experience and infrastructure resilience.
This formed part of the resolutions reached at the 109th Board Meeting of the Commission held on May 25, 2026, where members reviewed industry developments, operational reports and strategic initiatives shaping Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and digital economy.
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Board acknowledged the significant infrastructure expansion efforts being undertaken by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), noting that more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites have been planned nationwide.
Of this number, over 5,000 sites have already been completed, representing more than 40 per cent of the deployment target.
The Board also noted continued investments in transmission infrastructure, with fibre connectivity extended to more than 700 sites to strengthen network resilience, improve backhaul capacity and enhance service reliability.
It further observed that colocation and infrastructure-sharing licensees have upgraded infrastructure across over 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), supporting operators’ expansion plans and improving compliance with Quality of Service (QoS) obligations.
On consumer protection, the Board reviewed the implementation of the Commission’s directive requiring mobile operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor Quality of Service in areas where prescribed standards were not met.
It noted substantial progress, revealing that more than 75 million affected subscribers have already received compensation following full compliance by operators.
While expressing satisfaction with the level of compliance achieved, the Board said the Commission would continue to independently verify operators’ claims to ensure that all eligible subscribers receive the compensation due to them. Consumers were also encouraged to sustain their engagement with the Commission on service-related issues.
However, the Board expressed concern over the level of compliance by tower companies regarding directives requiring them to reinvest regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades.
It observed that while progress had been made, infrastructure providers had only partially complied with the requirement to fully fund escrow accounts established for infrastructure reinvestment. The Board stressed that complete compliance remained essential to achieving the intended improvements in network resilience and service delivery.
The meeting also considered trends in data consumption and the growing pressure on telecommunications infrastructure. The Board noted that rising demand for data services continues to be constrained by limited infrastructure capacity, heavy dependence on mobile internet connectivity and duplication of network assets, factors it said have negatively impacted service quality.
Despite these challenges, the Board welcomed the rapid growth of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections, which rose from 84,141 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 subscribers by the fifth quarter of 2025. It described the growth as a positive indication of increasing adoption of fixed broadband services.
According to the Board, expanding FTTH and other fixed-fibre networks will help reduce pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with broader connectivity options.
It also highlighted the Commission’s ongoing review of the telecommunications market structure to better reflect current industry realities, particularly the evolving roles of wholesale and retail market segments.
The Board noted that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre and expanded metropolitan fibre networks would facilitate greater connectivity for homes, businesses and institutions, ultimately reducing connectivity costs, supporting more affordable retail data services and improving network resilience.
It reaffirmed that this approach represents the most sustainable pathway for meeting Nigeria’s growing data requirements over the next decade and aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Addressing industry challenges, the Board expressed concern over the continued vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, describing it as a major impediment to sector growth.
It acknowledged efforts by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following the designation of telecommunications assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
Nevertheless, the Board called for deeper collaboration among industry stakeholders to strengthen the protection of network facilities and related infrastructure. As part of this effort, it reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure security, including exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund.
The Board also reviewed ongoing consultations with industry stakeholders on the development of a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and digital content. The initiative, it noted, is intended to promote digital inclusion, bridge the urban-rural digital divide and improve educational outcomes across the country.
Meanwhile, the Board approved a series of interim appointments to strengthen governance at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), following the expiration of the tenure of the institute’s Board Chairman and some members.
To reposition the institution for greater impact within Nigeria’s digital economy, the Board appointed Princess Oforitsenere Emiko as Interim Chairman of the DBI Governing Board. It also approved the appointments of Abraham Oshadami and Rimini Makama as interim members of the board.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by the Commission to fostering a sustainable, inclusive and competitive communications sector capable of driving Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Board reiterated that priorities such as quality of service, network resilience, consumer protection, transparency, fair competition and market discipline would remain at the forefront of the Commission’s regulatory agenda.