Nigeria’s mobile network operators have announced plans to increase spending on network infrastructure in 2026, promising investments surpassing the over $1 billion (N1.4 trillion) injected into the sector in 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has confirmed.
This commitment follows a year of substantial capital expenditure, during which telcos launched more than 2,850 new network sites. The expansion enhanced coverage in cities, rural communities, and key transport corridors while supporting the gradual rollout of 5G services across the country.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, noted that the improvements highlighted in the regulator’s latest network performance report were largely driven by last year’s investments.
“In 2025, the sector invested over $1 billion, resulting in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and network capacity nationwide,” Maida said.
He added, “Much of the progress reflected in the recent reports is a direct result of these investments. We have secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure expansion continuing in full swing.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces rising demand for data, high operating costs, and the ongoing challenge of delivering reliable connectivity beyond urban centres—a situation common across many countries in the Global South.
Last year’s network expansion followed a period of financial pressure on operators, who had called for higher tariffs. The 50% increase in service charges, approved by the NCC and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, helped ease financial constraints, allowing telcos to return to profitability and resume ambitious infrastructure projects.
The NCC’s Q4 2025 report, presented virtually, highlighted improvements in key performance indicators, including faster median download speeds in both urban and rural areas. The report also noted a reduction in the gap in video streaming quality between urban and rural locations, alongside continued reinforcement of Nigeria’s 4G network backbone.
“These reports allow us to track progress, identify gaps, and guide targeted regulatory interventions,” Maida said, emphasizing that the NCC relies on independently verified data to support decisions on spectrum optimisation, network upgrades, quality-of-service enforcement, and rural connectivity initiatives.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The report pointed to limited 5G availability, uneven upload speeds, and pockets of weak mobile coverage in some regions. Maida stated that planned investments in 2026 would be crucial in addressing these gaps and meeting Nigeria’s growing data needs.
The NCC also stressed that publishing network performance reports is part of its broader strategy to ensure transparent, data-driven regulation, facilitated by collaboration with global network intelligence company Ookla, which provides independent insights into real-world network performance.
With operators set to exceed the $1 billion benchmark of 2025, the NCC anticipates continued improvements in network speed, reliability, and coverage, supporting a more inclusive digital ecosystem that reaches both urban centres and underserved communities.
