By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released its Q4 2025 Network Performance Report, revealing steady improvements in network quality across the country, driven by sustained industry investment, data-driven regulation, and targeted regulatory interventions.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, disclosed this during a media engagement in Abuja, noting that the Commission’s collaboration with global internet intelligence firm, Ookla, is providing independent and objective insights into real-world network performance and the lived digital experience of Nigerians across cities, rural communities, highways, and emerging 5G locations.
According to Dr Maida, the release of the Q4 2025 report reflects the Commission’s commitment to transparent, evidence-based regulation and continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
“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.
He disclosed that the data shows clear and consistent improvements in median download speeds in both urban and rural areas when compared to Q3 2025 performance. Notably, the video Quality of Experience gap between urban and rural users has narrowed, while the strength of Nigeria’s 4G backbone continues to improve.
Dr Maida acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in gaps in 5G services and inequalities in upload speeds. However, he assured that the Commission is actively engaging mobile network operators to address these issues, including persistent gaps in mobile service coverage.
Highlighting the scale of industry commitment, the EVC revealed that over one billion dollars in investment was recorded in 2025, resulting in the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide to expand both coverage and capacity.
“Much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments,” he said, adding that operators have already committed to exceeding their 2025 investment levels in 2026.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr Abraham Oshadami, emphasised that transparency has become a guiding principle for the NCC, underpinning its regulatory approach and relationship with industry stakeholders and consumers.
He explained that the Commission’s partnership with Ookla has produced nationwide Network Coverage Maps, which allow consumers to objectively compare network quality across locations and operators. He noted that the quarterly performance reports were introduced to provide consistent, credible, and data-driven insights into how networks are performing across Nigeria.
Oshadami stated that the objective of the media engagement was to share key findings from the Q4 2025 report, highlight performance trends, and demonstrate how collective efforts are beginning to translate into measurable improvements in network performance and Quality of Experience for consumers.
He described the media as strategic partners in shaping public understanding of developments in the telecommunications sector, urging journalists to critically engage with the data and help amplify stories of progress, accountability, and reform.
Also speaking, the Head of the Public Affairs Department of the NCC, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, said the Commission remains committed to generating accurate, transparent, and timely industry data and ensuring that such data is properly understood and correctly communicated to the public.
She stressed that the media plays an indispensable role in interpreting and contextualising industry data for Nigerians, adding that the quarterly performance reports provide valuable material for daily news coverage, feature stories, investigative reporting, and sector monitoring.
Mrs Ukoha encouraged constructive framing of industry reports presenting challenges alongside progress, while highlighting solutions, investments, innovations, and improvements in quality of service and experience.
The Commission expressed optimism that continued collaboration with industry stakeholders and the media will translate the insights from the Q4 2025 report into better connectivity, improved service quality, and a more inclusive digital future for all Nigerians.
