The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a firm directive to tower companies (TowerCos) in the country: improve internet service quality by the end of August 2025 or face regulatory penalties.
The order was delivered by Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, during a high-level meeting held on Thursday in Abuja. Attendees included executives from major tower infrastructure firms such as IHS Towers, American Tower Corporation (ATC), and Pan-African Towers, as well as internet network providers and other telecom stakeholders.
NCC Targets Infrastructure Gaps Affecting Network Quality
The NCC’s directive focuses on pressing issues that affect the quality of internet and voice services across Nigeria, including:
- Unreliable power supply to telecom sites
- Equipment failures and poor maintenance
- Inadequate technical support and slow response to outages
“These failures lead to dropped calls, frozen data sessions, and widespread customer frustration,” said an industry stakeholder who attended the meeting.
TowerCos Are Central to Nigeria’s Telecom Ecosystem
Tower infrastructure providers form the backbone of Nigeria’s telecom sector, hosting the equipment that powers mobile services for major network operators such as MTN, Airtel, and Glo. These providers are responsible for:
- Ensuring 24/7 electricity supply to telecom towers
- Securing sites from theft and vandalism
- Maintaining structural and operational integrity of telecom facilities
“When there’s no power, radios shut down. If the power fluctuates, radios restart—causing dropped calls and poor data connectivity,” explained one telecom insider.
IHS, ATC, and Pan-African Towers Under Pressure
- IHS Towers manages an estimated 16,000–19,000 sites, accounting for around 62% of Nigeria’s tower infrastructure.
- American Tower Corporation (ATC) operates about 8,270 towers.
- Pan-African Towers, a local provider, runs between 760 and 1,000 sites (not all active).
The NCC’s updated regulations, introduced in August 2024, now hold these infrastructure companies accountable under the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations, with mandatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
“It’s been eleven months since the new KPIs were implemented—that’s enough time for all parties to align,” Maida stated during the meeting.
Transparency Measures and Real-Time Tracking
To support its enforcement, the NCC has launched a Major Incident Reporting Portal, requiring all service providers to report significant disruptions to the public.
Additionally, the Commission is working on performance dashboards, which will be hosted on the NCC website. These dashboards will allow consumers to track compliance with service-level targets and KPIs in real-time.
No More Excuses: Financial Disputes Not Accepted
Some tower companies have blamed their poor performance on delayed payments from mobile network operators (MNOs), citing financial constraints that hinder investment in backup power systems or site maintenance.
However, the NCC is no longer tolerating such explanations.
“Operators must fulfil both their technical and financial responsibilities,” said Maida. “Internal business disputes are not an excuse for network failures that impact millions of users.”
