$1bn Investment Pays Off as Nigeria’s Networks Post Measurable Quality Gains — NCC

$1bn Investment Pays Off as Nigeria’s Networks Post Measurable Quality Gains — NCC

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA February, 2026 -

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released its Q4 2025 Network Performance Report, revealing measurable improvements in network quality across the country, driven by sustained industry investment and strengthened regulatory oversight. The report, unveiled at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, underscores steady progress in broadband performance while highlighting areas requiring further intervention.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the report reflects the Commission’s commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. He noted that the assessment, produced in collaboration with global analytics firm Ookla, provides independent insights into real-world user experience across urban centres, rural communities, highways and emerging 5G locations nationwide.

According to the report, median download speeds recorded notable improvements in both urban and rural areas compared to the previous quarter, while the video Quality of Experience gap between urban and rural users continued to narrow. The performance of Nigeria’s 4G backbone also strengthened, reinforcing its role as the foundation of the country’s mobile broadband services. However, the report identified persistent gaps in 5G availability and disparities in upload speeds, which the NCC said are being addressed through ongoing engagements with operators.

Dr Maida attributed much of the progress to over $1 billion in industry investments in 2025, which supported the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide, expanding both coverage and capacity. He disclosed that operators have committed to exceeding their 2025 investment levels in 2026, signalling sustained momentum in infrastructure development.

The NCC said the Q4 2025 Network Performance Report will continue to guide targeted regulatory actions, including spectrum optimisation, quality-of-service enforcement and rural connectivity expansion, as the Commission works with industry stakeholders to deliver improved connectivity, higher service quality and a more inclusive digital future for Nigerians.