Nigeria’s telecommunications operators invested N2.53 trillion in network infrastructure in 2025. Yet, millions of subscribers continue to grapple with dropped calls, failed connections, slow internet speeds and intermittent service disruptions, raising concerns over the impact of the industry’s massive capital expenditure on service quality.
The persistent network challenges have become more contentious following the recent increase in telecommunications tariffs, which has raised operating costs for businesses and increased the financial burden on households.
Subscribers say higher charges and substantial infrastructure investments should translate into more reliable connectivity, but their everyday experiences suggest that significant gaps remain in service delivery.
Findings indicate that operators are contending with several structural challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply, fibre-optic cable damage, vandalism, foreign exchange pressures and rapidly growing demand for data services.
Data published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that the country’s four major mobile network operators, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 Mobile, formerly 9Mobile, recorded 413,587 consumer complaints in the first half of 2026.
The complaints covered voice and data quality, billing disputes, rapid data depletion, failed payment transactions and SIM-related issues.
Airtel Nigeria accounted for the largest share, with 228,992 complaints, followed by MTN Nigeria with 124,405. Globacom recorded 56,810 complaints, while T2 Mobile received 3,885.
The NCC reported that operators resolved 406,938 cases, representing a resolution rate of 98.38 per cent. However, the volume of complaints underscores the continuing concerns over network performance and customer experience.
The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, previously acknowledged that telecommunications service delivery had yet to meet the regulator’s expectations.
Speaking at the NCC’s first media interactive forum of 2026, Maida said independently collected, crowdsourced data indicated improvements in user experience. He also reported a decline in quality-of-service complaints following the 2025 tariff adjustment, from 351,000 in the corresponding period to approximately 75,000.
Despite the reported improvement, operators continue to face pressure to demonstrate that their investments are producing measurable benefits for subscribers.
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Figures released by the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) showed that mobile network operators and tower companies collectively invested N2.53 trillion in capital expenditure on network infrastructure in 2025, with an additional N1.86 trillion earmarked for 2026.
MTN Nigeria reportedly spent N620.5 billion on capital expenditure in the first half of 2026 and has deployed more than N1.62 trillion in network infrastructure since January 2025.
Airtel Nigeria, meanwhile, invested $168 million in capital projects in the financial year ended March 2025, with spending directed towards network coverage expansion and preparations for 5G services.
Globacom has also undertaken a multibillion-naira network upgrade programme involving the deployment of hundreds of new 4G LTE base stations and fibre relocation along five major routes affected by road construction and vandalism.
The NCC has further indicated that operators plan to add or upgrade more than 12,000 telecommunications sites in 2026. It also reported that power availability at tower sites improved from a national average of 99.3 per cent in January 2025 to 99.7 per cent at the time of its report.
Nevertheless, rising demand for connectivity continues to place pressure on existing network capacity.
According to NCC figures, data traffic on MTN’s network increased by 25.8 per cent in the first half of 2026, while average monthly data consumption per subscriber rose by 15.2 per cent to 14.8 gigabytes.
National data consumption also reached a record 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, representing an increase of approximately 43.6 per cent year-on-year.
The figures highlight the challenge facing operators as demand for digital services expands faster, in some areas, than infrastructure improvements can translate into a consistently better user experience.
ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, has argued that building a resilient telecommunications network requires more than financial investment. He identified fibre-optic cable cuts, vandalism, equipment theft and restricted access to network sites as persistent obstacles to reliable service delivery.
The NCC, in April 2026, directed telecommunications operators to provide automatic airtime compensation to subscribers in areas where prescribed quality-of-service standards are not met. The regulator said it was engaging independent auditors to verify compliance with the directive.
Speaking at the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum in Abuja, Maida emphasised the need for sustained investment to expand network coverage while improving service quality for existing users.
He said mobile subscriptions were projected to increase from approximately 195 million to 350 million over the next decade, making further investment in network capacity essential.
For subscribers, however, the central issue remains whether the industry’s substantial expenditure and higher tariffs will result in more dependable services.
Industry stakeholders maintain that investment must be accompanied by improved infrastructure protection, more reliable power supply, faster repairs and effective regulatory oversight.
Ultimately, the sector’s ability to close the gap between capital expenditure and customer experience will be critical to maintaining public confidence and supporting Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
