The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported steady improvements in the quality of telecommunications services across the country, with notable gains in download speeds and a narrowing gap between urban and rural user experience.
The improvement is contained in the NCC’s Quarter Four (Q4) 2025 Network Performance Reports, released on Thursday, following an industry engagement in collaboration with global internet performance analytics firm, Ookla.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the reports underscore the Commission’s commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
According to Maida, the reports provide independent insights into real-world network performance and the lived experience of telecom consumers across cities, rural communities, highways and emerging 5G locations.
“Through our collaboration with Ookla, we are providing independent insights into real-world network performance and the lived experience of Nigerians across cities, rural communities, highways, and emerging 5G zones,” he said.
He explained that the Q4 2025 reports enable the Commission to track industry progress, identify performance gaps and guide targeted regulatory interventions, including spectrum optimisation, infrastructure upgrades, quality-of-service enforcement and rural connectivity expansion.
Data from the reports show clear and steady improvements in network quality, particularly in median download speeds across both urban and rural areas when compared to Q3 2025 performance. The EVC noted that the video Quality of Experience (QoE) gap between urban and rural areas has also narrowed significantly, while the strength of Nigeria’s 4G network backbone continues to improve.
Despite the progress, Maida acknowledged persistent challenges in the sector, including gaps in 5G service availability and inequalities in upload speeds.
“The industry is not without challenges, as reflected in gaps in 5G services and inequalities in upload speeds highlighted in the reports. However, we are actively engaging with operators to address these issues, including gaps in mobile service coverage,” he said.
He attributed much of the improvement recorded in the reports to sustained investment by operators, revealing that over $1 billion was invested in the telecommunications sector in 2025, leading to the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide to boost coverage and capacity.
Maida further disclosed that operators have committed to increasing investment levels in 2026, signalling continued infrastructure expansion across the country.
“We have secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure investments continuing in earnest,” he said.
The NCC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to work closely with industry stakeholders to translate performance data into tangible improvements in connectivity, service quality and digital inclusion.
“We look forward to continued collaboration with industry stakeholders as we translate these insights into better connectivity, improved service quality, and a more inclusive digital future for all Nigerians,” Maida added.
