Mobile Operators Plan $1bn Investment In Network Infrastructure – NCC

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that Nigeria’s telecommunications operators plan to increase capital expenditure on network infrastructure in 2026, with investments expected to exceed the more than $1billion (about N1.4 trillion) spent across the sector in 2025.

The planned increase follows infrastructure expansion in 2025, when operators deployed over 2,850 new network sites nationwide. The rollout extended coverage across urban areas, rural communities and major transport routes, while supporting the expansion of fifth-generation (5G) services.

Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the NCC, said improvements recorded in the regulator’s latest network performance report were driven by industry investment in 2025.

He said the report reflects the impact of sustained capital spending on network capacity and coverage.

“Industry investment of over $1bn in 2025 supported the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand coverage and capacity nationwide,” Maida said. “The commission has received commitments from operators to exceed these investment levels in 2026.”

Nigeria faces increasing pressure on telecommunications infrastructure due to rising data consumption, higher operating costs and the need to extend reliable connectivity beyond major cities, a challenge common across emerging markets.

The increase in investment follows a period of financial strain in the sector, during which operators sought tariff adjustments. A 50 per cent increase in service charges, approved by the NCC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, helped improve cash flow and restore operators’ capacity to invest in network expansion.

The NCC’s fourth-quarter 2025 report showed improvements in key performance indicators, including higher median download speeds in both urban and rural areas. The report also indicated a reduction in differences in video streaming quality between locations and continued strengthening of the 4G network.

Maida said the commission uses independently verified performance data to guide regulatory decisions on spectrum management, infrastructure upgrades, service quality enforcement and rural connectivity expansion.

Despite these improvements, the NCC said challenges remain. The report identified gaps in 5G availability, disparities in upload speeds and areas with limited mobile coverage.

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The commission said increased infrastructure spending in 2026 would be important to addressing these gaps and supporting growing demand for data services. It added that the publication of network performance reports is part of its effort to promote data-driven regulation, supported by analysis from network intelligence firm Ookla.

With operators expected to invest beyond $1bn in 2026, the NCC said it anticipates further improvements in network reliability, speed and coverage.

The commission said it will continue to work with industry stakeholders to ensure that higher investment leads to measurable improvements in service quality for subscribers.