The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the telecom operators have compensated more than 75 million subscribers for poor network services.

The regulator disclosed this in a communiqué issued on Tuesday after its 109th board meeting held on May 25, 2026. It described the compensation exercise as a major step in enforcing service quality standards across mobile networks.

The development followed an NCC directive issued on March 29, 2026, requiring mobile operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor network performance.

Under the directive, operators were asked to automatically provide airtime credits to affected customers based on their average spending in areas where network quality fell below regulatory standards.

“The board noted substantial progress in the implementation of the commission’s directive, particularly the full compliance, which has resulted in compensation being offered to over 75 million affected subscribers,” the communiqué said.

The NCC said the exercise was part of efforts to ensure operators meet quality-of-service obligations amid complaints from consumers about dropped calls, slow internet speeds and inconsistent network coverage.

The commission added that although operators had reported compliance, it was still carrying out independent checks to confirm that all eligible subscribers had been compensated.

“The board further acknowledged ongoing efforts to independently validate operators’ claims and ensure all eligible subscribers receive compensation due to them, while encouraging consumers to continue their engagement with the commission,” it said.

Nigeria has more than 200 million mobile subscriptions, according to industry data, meaning the compensation exercise covers a large share of telecom users in the country.

The board also reviewed compliance by infrastructure providers, especially tower companies (TowerCos), which were directed to reinvest regulatory fines into network improvements through escrow arrangements aimed at strengthening service delivery.

According to the NCC, compliance has been partial, and full adherence is needed to achieve the expected infrastructure upgrades.

“While noting the progress made to date, the board emphasised the importance of full compliance to ensure that the intended infrastructure improvements are realised sustainably,” the communiqué stated.

The regulator’s intervention comes as the telecom sector continues to face challenges, including growing demand for data services, uneven fibre deployment and heavy dependence on mobile broadband, which has put pressure on network capacity.

Telecom operators, tower companies and other industry players invested about N2.13 trillion in capital expenditure in 2025.

Industry operators also plan to spend about N1.86 trillion in 2026 on network expansion, technology upgrades and other improvements aimed at enhancing service delivery.

The NCC said efforts to expand fibre-to-the-home connections are gaining momentum, although penetration remains low compared to national demand. It added that wider fibre rollout and expansion of wholesale backbone infrastructure would help reduce pressure on mobile networks and lower the cost of data services over time.

The commission also identified vandalism of telecom infrastructure as a major challenge affecting service quality despite the designation of telecom assets as critical national information infrastructure.

“The board noted the prevailing sectoral challenges affecting the operations of licensees of the commission, including infrastructure vandalism, which has continued to hamper industry growth,” it said.

The NCC said it is considering additional measures to protect telecom infrastructure, including the proposed Communications Industry Security Trust Fund.

The commission said the compensation programme and other regulatory actions demonstrate its commitment to improving service quality in a sector where complaints about network performance remain widespread. (Nigerian Tribune)