The Nigerian telecommunications industry attracted over $1 billion in capital investments in 2025 leading to the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide.

This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, who also said the investment, which expanded both network coverage and capacity, underpinned improvements in service quality recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The disclosure, contained in a statement yesterday, followed the formal release of the NCC’s fourth quarter, 2025 Network Performance Reports on Wednesday, an industry assessment developed in collaboration with global internet analytics firm, Ookla, to measure real-world network performance across urban centres, rural communities, highways and emerging 5G zones.

Maida noted that the reports showed steady gains in network quality, with improvements in median download speeds across both urban and rural areas compared to the previous quarter, alongside a narrowing video Quality of Experience gap and a strengthening 4G backbone nationwide.

He stated further: “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.

“The data shows clear and steady improvements in network quality, particularly in median download speeds across both urban and rural areas, especially when compared to Q3 performance. Notably, the video Quality of Experience gap between urban and rural areas has narrowed, and the strength of our 4G backbone continues to improve.

“In 2025, over $1 billion in industry investment resulted in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and capacity nationwide. Much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments.”

According to Maida, the report reflects NCC’s commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and the continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Despite the progress, the NCC boss acknowledged persistent gaps in 5G availability, upload speeds and mobile service coverage, noting that regulatory engagements with operators are ongoing to address these disparities.

He disclosed that operators have committed to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, signalling sustained capital inflows into network expansion and upgrades as the commission pushes for broader connectivity and improved quality of service nationwide.