NCC’s Q4 report shows steady growth in digital services amid challenges

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled its Q4 2025 Network Performance Reports, a report that shows a sector on an upward trajectory in spite of challenges. In this report, ORISEMEKE BENJAMIN looks at the report and the road ahead.  

In a landscape where digital connectivity is increasingly the backbone of economic growth, education, and social interaction, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled its Q4 2025 Network Performance Reports, painting a picture of resilient progress in the telecommunications sector. 

Released amid a media engagement session on January 28, 2026, the reports highlight steady improvements in network quality and digital services, even as persistent challenges underscore the need for ongoing investment and regulatory oversight. This development comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria, where over 200 million people rely on mobile networks for everything from banking to remote work, and the push toward a digital economy is accelerating.

The NCC’s quarterly reports, produced in collaboration with global internet testing leader Ookla, offer an independent, data-driven snapshot of network performance across the country. Drawing from real-world user experiences in urban centers, rural communities, highways, and emerging 5G zones, these insights are designed to foster transparency, accountability, and targeted improvements. 

As Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, emphasized in his comments on the report, “Today’s engagement reflects our commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and the continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.” This partnership with Ookla not only provides objective metrics but also equips regulators, operators, and consumers with tools to track progress and address gaps.

Clear, steady improvement

At the heart of the Q4 report is evidence of “clear and steady improvements” in key performance indicators. Median download speeds have seen notable gains in both urban and rural areas compared to Q3 2025, signaling enhanced capacity for streaming, downloads, and online activities. This uptick is particularly significant in a nation where internet penetration has surged beyond 50% in recent years, driven by affordable data plans and widespread smartphone adoption. 

The reports also reveal a narrowing gap in video Quality of Experience (QoE) between urban and rural users, a metric that measures how smoothly videos load and play without buffering. This improvement suggests that efforts to bridge the digital divide are bearing fruit, allowing more Nigerians in remote areas to access educational content, telemedicine, and entertainment on par with their city-dwelling counterparts.

Furthermore, the strength of Nigeria’s 4G backbone continues to solidify, forming the foundation for much of the country’s mobile internet traffic. With 4G networks covering over 80% of the population by the end of 2025, these enhancements translate to faster browsing, more reliable voice calls, and better support for bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing and e-commerce. 

Engr. Abraham Oshadami, the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at the NCC, underscored this positive trajectory in his opening remarks at the media briefing: “We are observing measurable improvements in network performance and, importantly, in the Quality of Experience delivered to consumers.”

Such advancements are not abstract; they directly impact daily life, from farmers in Kano accessing market prices via apps to students in Lagos participating in online classes.

$1 billion investments

The reports attribute much of this progress to substantial industry investments. In 2025 alone, telecommunications operators poured over $1 billion into infrastructure, resulting in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites nationwide. These expansions have boosted both coverage and capacity, particularly in underserved regions. 

Dr. Maida highlighted that “much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments.” This capital influx has been facilitated by NCC’s regulatory framework, which includes spectrum optimization and incentives for rural rollout. 

For instance, initiatives like the National Broadband Plan aim to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, a target that appears within reach based on these metrics.

Looking ahead, the NCC has secured commitments from major operators—such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile—to surpass their 2025 investment levels in 2026. This pledge is crucial as Nigeria gears up for broader 5G adoption, which promises ultra-fast speeds and low latency for innovations like smart cities and IoT applications. 

The commission’s proactive stance includes ongoing engagements with operators to enforce quality-of-service standards and expand connectivity. As Dr. Maida noted, “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.”

Hurdles…

Yet, the reports do not shy away from the sector’s hurdles, embodying the NCC’s commitment to balanced transparency. Challenges persist, particularly in 5G services, where coverage remains limited to select urban areas like Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

Upload speeds also show inequalities, with rural users often experiencing slower rates that hinder activities like content creation and cloud backups. Gaps in mobile service coverage, especially along highways and in remote villages, continue to pose risks for emergency communications and economic inclusion. 

Dr. Maida acknowledged these issues head-on: “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.”

These shortcomings are symptomatic of broader infrastructural and economic pressures in Nigeria. Power outages, vandalism of telecom sites, and high operational costs due to inflation and forex fluctuations exacerbate deployment challenges. Rural areas, home to nearly half of Nigeria’s population, often suffer from inadequate backhaul infrastructure, leading to inconsistent service. 

The NCC’s response includes targeted interventions, such as spectrum auctions to free up bandwidth for 5G and subsidies for rural towers through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). By identifying these gaps through data, the commission can guide precise actions, ensuring that growth is equitable.

Media’s role

The media engagement session itself underscored the NCC’s emphasis on partnership and communication. Held in Abuja, the event brought together journalists, industry experts, and regulators to dissect the reports.

Engr. Oshadami praised the media’s role: “We regard the media as strategic partners in this journey. It is important that stories of progress, accountability, and reform are accurately told and widely understood.” 

This sentiment was echoed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Head of the Public Affairs Department, who urged “constructive framing” in reporting: “It means presenting issues in a way that highlights progress alongside challenges, shows the solutions being deployed, reflects the investments and innovations shaping the sector.”

This approach to transparency is a relatively recent evolution for the NCC. Historically, telecom regulation in Nigeria has faced criticism for opacity and favoritism. 

However, under the current leadership, initiatives like the Network Coverage Maps—launched in partnership with Ookla last year—have democratized access to performance data. 

Tracking trends

Consumers can now compare operators’ speeds and coverage via interactive online tools, empowering informed choices and pressuring providers to improve. 

The quarterly reports build on this, offering consistent benchmarks that track trends over time. For instance, while Q3 2025 focused on baseline establishment, Q4 shows incremental gains, setting a positive tone for 2026.

In the broader context of Nigeria’s digital economy, these reports are a microcosm of national ambitions. 

The country aims to leverage telecoms to drive GDP growth, with the sector already contributing over 14% to the economy. Digital services have exploded, from fintech platforms like Opay and PalmPay handling billions in transactions to e-learning tools bridging educational gaps post-COVID. 

Steady network improvements support this ecosystem, enabling innovations in agriculture (e.g., precision farming apps) and healthcare (e.g., remote diagnostics). However, amid challenges like cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns, the NCC’s data-driven strategy is vital for sustainable development.

Critics, however, argue that more aggressive measures are needed. Advocacy groups like the Consumer Protection Council have called for stricter penalties on operators failing QoS standards, pointing to frequent outages during peak hours. 

Environmental concerns also loom, with tower deployments sometimes clashing with conservation efforts. The NCC counters that its collaborative model—engaging operators rather than imposing top-down mandates—yields better long-term results, as evidenced by the 2025 investments.

Upward trajectory

As Nigeria navigates these dynamics, the Q4 reports serve as a roadmap. They affirm that while challenges endure, the trajectory is upward. With committed investments and regulatory vigilance, the digital divide could narrow further, fostering inclusivity. 

Mrs. Ukoha captured this optimism: “As we present the Q4 Industry Performance Reports today, we do so in the spirit of collaboration. We look forward to meaningful engagements, thoughtful questions, and impactful stories that reflect the realities of our industry, its challenges, its victories, and its future.”

In conclusion, the NCC’s Q4 2025 Network Performance Reports encapsulate a sector in motion—growing steadily amid obstacles. 

For Nigerians, this means better access to digital services that empower lives and livelihoods. As 2026 unfolds, all eyes will be on whether promised investments materialize, propelling the nation toward a truly connected future. 

The reports not only measure speeds and signals but also the pulse of a digital revolution in Africa’s most populous country.