The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended telecommunications operators for ongoing investments aimed at improving network coverage, capacity and quality of service across the country.
NCC
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Commission’s 109th Board Meeting held on May 25 in Abuja.
According to the communiqué, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites nationwide, with over 5,000 already completed, representing more than 40 per cent of the target.
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The Board also noted that fibre connectivity had been extended to more than 700 sites to improve network resilience, backhaul capacity and service reliability.
It added that co-location and infrastructure sharing licensees had upgraded equipment across more than 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to support network expansion and compliance with quality-of-service obligations.
The Board reviewed the implementation of the Commission’s directive requiring operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor service quality in areas where prescribed standards were not met.
It noted that full compliance by operators had resulted in compensation being offered to more than 75 million affected subscribers.
The Board said efforts were ongoing to independently verify operators’ claims and ensure that all eligible subscribers received the compensation due to them.
However, it expressed concern that tower infrastructure providers had only partially complied with directives requiring the reinvestment of regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades through escrow accounts.
On broadband development, the Board noted rising data consumption across the country but observed that growth remained constrained by infrastructure limitations, reliance on mobile internet and duplication of assets.
It welcomed the growth in Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) subscriptions, which rose from 84,141 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 connections as of the first quarter of 2026.
According to the Board, expanding fixed broadband infrastructure will help reduce pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with more connectivity options.
The Board also noted that the Commission was reviewing the telecommunications market structure to reflect current realities in both the wholesale and retail segments of the industry.
It reaffirmed that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre and expanded metropolitan fibre networks would help lower connectivity costs, improve network resilience and support the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
The Board further identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting industry growth despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect telecommunications facilities designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
It called for greater collaboration among stakeholders and disclosed that the Commission was exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund to strengthen infrastructure protection.
The Board also reviewed ongoing engagements with industry players on the development of a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content to promote digital inclusion and improve educational outcomes.
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In addition, the Board approved the appointment of Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, a Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC, as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).
It also approved the appointments of Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, as interim members of the DBI Governing Board.
The Board reiterated the Commission’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive communications sector through improved quality of service, network resilience, consumer protection, transparency, fair competition and market discipline.
