By Juliet Umeh
Nigeria’s push to build next-generation mobile networks gained momentum in 2025, with the deployment of more than 2,850 new telecom sites nationwide laying critical groundwork for the expansion of 5G services, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed that over $1 billion in industry investments during the year strengthened network capacity and coverage, supporting improvements in service quality and preparing mobile networks for wider 5G adoption.
Maida spoke following the release of the NCC’s Q4 2025 Network Performance Reports, developed in collaboration with global internet analytics firm Ookla. The reports assess real-world network performance across urban centres, highways, rural communities, and emerging 5G zones.
According to the NCC boss, the data showed steady improvements in median download speeds in the fourth quarter of 2025, alongside a narrowing video Quality of Experience gap and a stronger 4G backbone—an essential foundation for scaling 5G services nationwide.
“These reports enable us to track network readiness for advanced technologies such as 5G, identify capacity gaps, and guide targeted regulatory interventions,” Maida said.
“The data shows clear improvements in network performance across the country, particularly in download speeds when compared to Q3 2025. The strengthening of the 4G backbone is especially important, as it underpins the effective rollout of 5G services.”
He explained that the deployment of new sites was central to improving network densification, a key requirement for high-speed and low-latency 5G networks.
“In 2025, over $1 billion in industry investment resulted in the deployment of more than 2,850 new sites to expand both coverage and capacity nationwide. These investments are critical to supporting current 4G demand while laying the foundation for broader 5G deployment,” he said.
Despite the progress, Maida acknowledged that 5G availability remains uneven, largely concentrated in major urban centres. He noted that regulatory engagements with operators are ongoing to accelerate rollout, improve upload speeds, and extend next-generation services beyond city hubs.
The NCC boss also disclosed that telecom operators have committed to exceeding their 2025 investment levels in 2026, signalling sustained capital inflows aimed at network upgrades, further site deployment, and deeper 5G penetration.
According to him, wider 5G adoption is expected to unlock new opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, advanced manufacturing, telemedicine, and digital services, reinforcing the sector’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy.
