By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released its Q4 2025 Network Performance Reports, highlighting steady improvements in network quality across the country, alongside increased industry investment and ongoing efforts to address service gaps.
Speaking on the release, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the engagement underscores the Commission’s commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and the continuous enhancement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
According to Dr. Maida, the reports were produced through the NCC’s collaboration with global internet analytics firm Ookla, providing independent insights into real-world network performance and the lived experiences of subscribers across urban centres, rural communities, highways, and emerging 5G zones.
“These reports enable us to track progress, identify gaps, and guide targeted regulatory interventions ranging from spectrum optimisation and infrastructure upgrades to quality-of-service enforcement and the expansion of rural connectivity,” he said.
The NCC noted that data from the Q4 2025 assessment shows clear and sustained improvements in network quality, particularly in median download speeds across both urban and rural areas when compared with Q3 performance.
The Commission also reported a narrowing of the video Quality of Experience gap between urban and rural locations, alongside continued strengthening of Nigeria’s 4G network backbone.
However, Dr. Maida acknowledged that challenges remain within the sector, including gaps in 5G services, disparities in upload speeds, and mobile service coverage inequalities identified in the reports.
“The industry is not without challenges, but we are actively engaging with operators to address these issues, including gaps in mobile service coverage,” he stated.
The EVC disclosed that in 2025, over $1 billion in industry investment led to the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide, expanding both coverage and capacity. He noted that much of the progress reflected in the Q4 reports is directly linked to these investments.
Dr. Maida further revealed that the Commission has secured commitments from telecom operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure expansion expected to continue at an accelerated pace.
He reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to sustained collaboration with industry stakeholders to translate performance insights into improved connectivity, enhanced service quality, and a more inclusive digital future for Nigerians.
