Telecom operators plan 12,000 site upgrades in 2026, says NCC

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have collectively exceeded $1bn in capital investments, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said. The Commission also stated that the telcom comlanies are set to upgrade 12,000 network sites in 2026 as part of efforts to improve service quality and expand coverage, The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, […]

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have collectively exceeded $1bn in capital investments, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

The Commission also stated that the telcom comlanies are set to upgrade 12,000 network sites in 2026 as part of efforts to improve service quality and expand coverage,

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, noting that the scale of planned upgrades marks a significant acceleration compared to previous years.

The EVC said that operators upgraded about 2,800 sites last year across the three major operators, MTN, Airtel and Globacom, covering new sites, technology upgrades from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G, and fibre additions.

“So far, 2,800 of those have been done, including about 63 new sites,” Maida said, adding that the industry is already outperforming last year’s total deployment figures.

The upgrades are expected to enhance both coverage and capacity, with operators deploying additional spectrum on existing 4G sites and converting legacy 2G and 3G infrastructure to more advanced 4G and 5G technologies. The move is aimed at addressing persistent service quality concerns and meeting rising data demand across the country.

He also commended Edo state government for their efforts in the telecom sector saying “I would commend a particular state, Edo, its approach the matter. I will like to appreciate the state’s authorities for the way they have handled that collaboration in a very simple but effective manner.

“Their contractors, prior to starting any work, send out letters to the commission to inform all the telco service providers who own infrastructure to basically give them notice of work.
Maida said the sustained capital injection by operators is critical to funding the expansion, revealing that at least one telecom company has already surpassed $1 billion in investment this year alone.

“We reported last year that we were over a billion. This year, one of them is already doing over a billion,” he said, underscoring the growing financial commitment within the sector.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the NCC has also taken steps to improve network performance through enhanced spectrum management. Maida explained that the commission facilitated several spectrum trades to enable operators to expand capacity and optimise network efficiency.

In her remarks, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Rimini Makama, said that the quarterly engagement was organised to enable the media to properly inform the public.

“This quarterly interaction is being held precisely because we believe that a well-informed press produces a well informed public.

“A well informed public is one of the strongest tools we have for driving real progress in the telecom sector,” she said.

Earlier, the Director Public Affairs, NCC, Nnena Ukoha, said that the commission looked forward to frank, constructive conversations on telecom trends.

“It is my expectation that we will constructively utilise this platform for open and frank conversations, sharing insights on the emerging trends in the telecommunications industry.”