Telcos To Upgrade 12,000 Sites As NCC Moves To Improve Service
NCC Unveils Major Network Expansion Plan
THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says telecom operators are expected to upgrade 12,000 base stations in 2026 as part of efforts to improve network quality and expand capacity nationwide.
Executive Vice-Chairman of the commission, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this during a media breakfast meeting in Lagos.
He said the planned infrastructure rollout is designed to address long-standing complaints over poor service quality, dropped calls and slow internet speeds.
Progress Builds After Slow 2025
According to Maida, the telecom industry recorded only modest progress in 2025, with just over 300 base station upgrades completed.
He said the limited expansion placed pressure on networks as data consumption continued to rise across the country.
However, the sector has shown stronger momentum in 2026, with about 2,800 upgrades already completed in the early part of the year.
4G, 5G Expansion in Focus
The NCC boss explained that the upgrades include expansion of existing sites, deployment of new infrastructure and migration of older 2G and 3G facilities to 4G and 5G technology.
He added that spectrum reallocation by the regulator has also helped operators make better use of available frequency bands.
According to him, improved access to spectrum has already contributed to better data performance in some locations.
Subscribers to Receive Compensation
Maida also announced a compensation framework for subscribers affected by poor service quality.
He said eligible customers would receive airtime credits based on service assessments conducted at local government level, covering performance between November 2025 and January 2026.
The initiative, he said, is intended as a regulatory penalty on operators that fail to meet required standards.
