The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans for telecom operators to upgrade 12,000 base stations in 2026, alongside the introduction of a compensation framework for subscribers affected by poor service quality.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Maida, disclosed this during a breakfast meeting with media executives on Thursday in Lagos. He described the initiative as a major step toward addressing long-standing challenges in network quality and capacity nationwide.
Maida noted that progress in 2025 was modest, with just over 300 base station upgrades recorded, a shortfall that contributed to mounting service pressure amid rising data demand. However, he said momentum has improved significantly in 2026, with about 2,800 upgrades already completed in the early part of the year.
He explained that the upgrades involve expanding capacity at existing sites, deploying new infrastructure, and converting legacy 2G and 3G networks to more advanced 4G and 5G technologies. The process also includes the addition of spectrum to enhance data performance and network efficiency.
Describing spectrum as the “highways” of telecommunications, Maida said recent spectrum reallocation and trading have enabled better utilisation of underused frequency bands, resulting in improved data speeds in some areas.
Despite these gains, he cautioned that improvements in network quality may not immediately translate into better user experience due to rapidly increasing data consumption. According to him, enhanced service often drives higher usage, which can quickly put renewed pressure on network capacity if expansion is not sustained.
The NCC boss emphasised that continued investment in fibre infrastructure remains critical to delivering affordable, high-quality internet access at scale. He identified fibre deployment as the most viable solution for supporting connectivity to homes, schools, and public institutions.
On consumer protection, Maida revealed that the Commission has introduced a compensation framework under which subscribers affected by poor service will receive airtime credits. He explained that the assessment of service quality has been decentralised to the local government level to better reflect users’ real experiences.
He said the compensation will cover service shortfalls recorded between November 2025 and January 2026, with subsequent periods to be addressed after verification. Subscribers will be notified once the rollout begins.
Maida clarified that the compensation is not a refund but a regulatory penalty imposed on operators for failing to meet established service quality benchmarks. He added that independent verification mechanisms have been put in place to ensure transparency and accountability.
He stressed that the combined strategy of infrastructure expansion and consumer compensation is designed to enhance service delivery and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
