NCC Warns Telecom Operators Over Declining Service Quality

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a strong warning to telecommunications operators, urging them to urgently improve the quality of their services or face regulatory sanctions.

The caution follows sustained complaints from subscribers across the country who have decried unstable and poor network performance, particularly during and after the festive season.

Many users reported frequent call drops, slow internet speeds and service disruptions.

In a move to underline its position, the NCC unveiled a performance assessment report compiled in collaboration with Ookla, an international firm known for network intelligence and performance analysis. The report provides a detailed breakdown of how mobile networks in Nigeria compare in terms of speed, reliability and overall quality of service.

The regulator advised operators lagging behind to urgently channel investments into strengthening network reliability, with specific attention to reducing latency and jitter, which are critical for seamless data services and real-time applications.

Findings from the report reveal a widening gap in network performance across the sector. While some operators have made notable progress in delivering faster and more reliable services, others continue to struggle with consistency nationwide.

MTN emerged as the strongest performer overall, maintaining high download and upload speeds alongside relatively stable latency and jitter levels across the country.

Airtel, on the other hand, recorded a decline in performance during the industry’s gradual shift towards 5G technology. The report identified network latency as a key area requiring improvement, although the operator was commended for sustaining competitive download speeds in major cities through its 4G infrastructure.

The assessment of 9mobile showed uneven results across different regions.

Although instances of high-speed connectivity were observed, the data pointed to a significant shortfall in its national quality of service delivery.

For Globacom, the report highlighted persistent challenges with latency and jitter, which were found to adversely impact services such as video conferencing and digital payment platforms.

The NCC said the collaboration with Ookla reflects its commitment to evidence-based regulation, stressing that performance data will continue to guide its oversight of the telecom sector to ensure better service delivery for Nigerian consumers.