The evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape in early 2026 presents a mixed picture. On one hand, the country has witnessed measurable improvements in network stability, latency and throughput, particularly in urban centres. On the other hand, persistent structural challenges, negative user sentiment, underutilisation of 5G and stark regional fragmentation continue to undermine the promise of a truly inclusive digital future.
The Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Network Performance Report and the Comparative Assessment of QoS/QoE authored by Ookla on behalf, which reviewed the sector in Q1 2026, explained the interlinked challenges.
Between performance and perception
Despite technical progress, user sentiment remains stubbornly negative. The report revealed that all major operators – MTN, Airtel, Glo and T2 – recorded negative net promoter scores (NPS) in February 2026. Even MTN, which consistently set the pace, regressed to -0.26, only a slight improvement from -0.31 it scored six months earlier.
Airtel, meanwhile, saw its NPS decline from -0.34 to -0.36, underscoring the fragility of consumer trust.
This dissatisfaction is not primarily about peak download speeds. Instead, it stemmed from network availability and technology access. The report observed that users are increasingly frustrated by the lack of consistent 4G and 5G coverage, especially in areas where their devices are technically capable but the network infrastructure lags. The reports emphasised that coverage gaps, rather than raw speed, drive consumer complaints.
As one section noted, “User dissatisfaction is more closely linked to network availability and technology access (e.g., lack of 5G) than to peak download speeds.”
The Comparative Assessment added nuance by showing that while national download speeds have stabilised, the real breakthrough lies in improved stability metrics, an 8.5 per cent reduction in game latency and a 12.5 per cent reduction in jitter. These improvements should, in theory, enhance real-time experiences such as gaming, VoIP calls, and fintech transactions. Yet the persistence of negative sentiment suggested that consumers are not experiencing these benefits uniformly. The perception gap arises because improvements are concentrated in select urban clusters, leaving vast swathes of the population underserved.
Between device readiness and network reality
Further, the report noted that Nigeria’s 5G rollout illustrated the classic problem of technological mismatch. While the penetration of 5G-capable devices has grown significantly, actual utilisation remains dismally low. In Lagos, only 27.5 per cent of capable devices are connected to 5G networks; in Abuja, the figure is slightly higher at 31.4 per cent. These percentages have not changed since August 2025, even though the absolute number of devices has surged. The reports described this as a “utilisation gap”, a situation where device readiness far exceeds network availability.
Cost of underutilisation
Operators have concentrated 5G investments in commercial hubs, leaving cultural centres, hospitals, and transport nodes underserved. The reports identify 27 critical clusters in Lagos and Abuja where demand is proven, but service remains inadequate.
Fallback to legacy networks: Many devices default to 4G or even 3G due to patchy 5G coverage. This fallback undermined consumer confidence in the technology and perpetuates dissatisfaction.
Static supply vs growing demand: While the number of 5G-capable devices grows, the supply of effective 5G coverage has remained static. This imbalance exacerbated frustration among early adopters who feel shortchanged.
The report noted that strategically, operators must prioritise expanding 5G coverage in high-demand clusters. Without this, Nigeria risks entrenching a two-tier digital society, one where urban elites enjoy advanced connectivity while the majority remains tethered to outdated networks.
Regional fragmentation
Perhaps the most enduring challenge highlighted in both reports is regional fragmentation. Improvements in quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) remained concentrated in high-density urban zones such as Lagos, Abuja, and Rivers States. These areas consistently outperform the national average by 30–40 per cent. In contrast, rural and northern regions continue to suffer from what the reports term a “legacy bottleneck”, a reliance on 2G and 3G networks that depresses national averages and limits access to modern digital tools.
The Network Performance report bluntly stated: “Improvements remain concentrated in high-density urban zones like Lagos and FCT, with limited spillover into rural or northern regions.” This fragmentation is not merely a technical issue; it has profound social and economic implications. Rural communities are excluded from the benefits of fintech, e-learning, telemedicine, and other digital services that require stable, high-speed connections.
Guardian.ng
