Telcos Plan ₦1.4tn Investment to Expand Networks in 2026 – NCC

Nigeria’s mobile network operators have pledged to invest over ₦1.4 trillion in network infrastructure this year, surpassing last year’s capital expenditure of more than $1 billion, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

The NCC revealed that the 2025 investments enabled operators to deploy over 2,850 new network sites, improving coverage in urban and rural areas, along transport corridors, and supporting the gradual rollout of 5G services.

Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, said the regulator’s latest network performance report shows these investments were instrumental in boosting connectivity. “We have secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026, with infrastructure development continuing robustly,” he said.

The regulator noted improvements in median download speeds, narrowing gaps between urban and rural areas, and strengthening of the 4G network backbone. Yet, challenges remain, including limited 5G availability, inconsistent upload speeds, and pockets of poor coverage.

Maida emphasized that the NCC is leveraging independently verified data, in collaboration with network intelligence firm Ookla, to guide regulatory actions, optimize spectrum usage, and improve service quality. The planned surge in investment is expected to close coverage gaps and meet rising demand for data services nationwide.