NCC targets 12,000 base station upgrades to improve… TheConclaveNg

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says operators will upgrade 12,000 base stations in 2026 and start compensating subscribers for poor telecommunications service.

The Executive Vice President of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated this during a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos.

Maida said the planned infrastructure expansion marks an important step in addressing persistent challenges in network quality and capacity across the country.

He noted that the sector has made limited progress in 2025, with just over 300 base station upgrades recorded, a situation which he said has contributed to pressure on services amid growing data demand.

According to him, the industry has already seen improved momentum in 2026, with around 2,800 base station upgrades completed by the first part of the year.

He explained that the upgrades include expanding existing site capacity, deploying new infrastructure, and converting legacy 2G and 3G sites to 4G and 5G technologies.

“These upgrades cover additional spectrum for 4G sites and the conversion of older networks to more advanced technologies,” he said.

Maida said the commission also supported operators through spectrum reallocation, which enabled better use of previously underutilized frequency bands.

He described spectrum as the “highways” of telecommunications, noting that increased availability directly improves network capacity and data performance.

According to him, recent spectrum trading in the sector has helped improve data speeds in some parts of the country.

Maida, however, cautioned that improvements in service quality may not immediately translate into perceived user experience due to rapidly increasing data consumption.

He said digital platforms and changing user behavior often lead to higher demand, which could quickly put renewed pressure on upgraded networks.

“When service improves, utilization increases. This often leads to congestion returning faster than expected if capacity is not continually expanded,” he said.

The NCC boss stressed that sustained investment in fiber infrastructure remains critical to achieving long-term, affordable and high-quality internet access.

He said that fiber deployment is the most viable solution to provide large-scale, unlimited connectivity to homes, schools and public spaces.

Maida added that the commission is closely monitoring network performance indicators such as data speed and latency to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

On consumer protection, he said the NCC had introduced a compensation framework to address service deficiencies experienced by subscribers.

He explained that affected users will receive airtime credits based on service quality assessments conducted at the local government level.

“We have moved monitoring from the state level to the local government level to better reflect the actual experience of subscribers,” he said.

Maida said the compensation covers service performance between November 2025 and January 2026, with subsequent periods to be worked out after validation.

He added that subscribers will receive notifications once the rollout begins, after verification processes are complete.

According to him, compensation is a regulatory sanction for operators who do not meet defined service quality parameters, not a refund.

Maida said independent verification mechanisms had been introduced to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.

He stressed that the combined approach of infrastructure expansion and consumer compensation aims to improve service delivery and restore confidence in the telecommunications sector. (NAN)

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