Nigeria’s Telecoms Industry Attracts Over $1bn Investment In 2025 — NCC

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector attracted over $1 billion in capital investment in 2025, driving the deployment of more than 2,850 new network sites nationwide, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The disclosure was made by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, following the official release of the commission’s Fourth Quarter 2025 Network Performance Reports on Wednesday.

The reports, developed in collaboration with global internet analytics firm Ookla, assessed real-world network performance across urban centres, rural communities, highways, and emerging 5G zones.

Maida said the scale of investment significantly expanded network coverage and capacity, underpinning notable improvements in service quality recorded in the final quarter of 2025.

According to him, the data showed steady gains in median download speeds across both urban and rural areas compared with the previous quarter, alongside a narrowing video Quality of Experience gap and a stronger nationwide 4G backbone.

“These reports enable us to track progress, identify gaps, and guide targeted regulatory interventions — from spectrum optimisation and infrastructure upgrades to quality-of-service enforcement and the expansion of rural connectivity,” Maida said.

He added that much of the progress reflected in the reports was a direct result of the more than $1 billion invested by operators in 2025, which translated into thousands of new network sites deployed across the country.

Despite the gains, the NCC boss acknowledged persistent gaps in 5G availability, upload speeds, and mobile coverage, particularly in underserved areas. He said regulatory engagements with telecom operators are ongoing to address these challenges.

Maida also disclosed that operators have committed to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, signalling continued capital inflows as the commission intensifies efforts to improve connectivity, service quality, and the overall digital ecosystem nationwide.