NCC launches network performance reports to boost transparency, service quality

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched its quarterly public network performance reports, aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and consumer experience across the country’s telecom industry.

Speaking at the virtual launch on Monday, Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the NCC, said the initiative marks a shift toward data-driven and open regulation that empowers consumers, investors, and operators alike.

“In every modern economy, reliable information is the foundation of trust and accountability,” Maida said.

“When we publish credible performance data, consumers make smarter choices, investors allocate capital with confidence, and operators improve quality and innovation.”

He described the reports as a “living accountability mechanism,” tracking quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) across networks using large-scale, crowdsourced data contributed by users nationwide.

According to Maida, the six quarterly publications will cover national network performance, 5G rollout opportunities, device adoption, technology mix, and comparative service assessments.

The data, he said, will be updated regularly and made publicly available on the NCC website.

‘TRANSPARENCY IS REGULATION BY SUNLIGHT’

Maida said the reports are designed to strengthen competition and improve service delivery by allowing consumers to compare network performance, and operators to benchmark themselves more transparently.

“Transparent performance information strengthens competition. Public comparable metrics help consumers reward better networks and encourage laggards to catch up. In short, transparency is regulation by sunlight,” he said.

The EVC added that for policymakers and investors, the reports would serve as an evidence-based tool to guide capital allocation and identify underserved areas in need of network expansion.

Maida said the reports will be updated quarterly and supported by simple public explainers to help Nigerians understand how mobile networks perform and what factors affect their experience.

He added that the publication aligns with the commission’s broader mission to make telecoms regulation more open and consumer-centric.

FCCPC, NITDA BACK DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO IMPROVE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE 

Tunji Bello, executive vice-chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), said the publication of consumer experience data would improve transparency and accountability across the telecom industry.

“This practical step gives consumers clearer visibility into service quality and allows regulators and operators to benchmark performance more transparently,” he said.

“We see this as a shared tool for accountability.”

Kashifu Inua, director-general of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), described the effort as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, stressing that data-driven regulation is critical for informed decision-making and national planning.

“What you cannot measure, you cannot improve,” Inua said.

“We need this data to plan, to know where we are, and to understand what is required to achieve our digital vision for Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Chip Strange, chief strategy officer of Ookla, lauded the NCC’s move toward public-facing data, calling it a global best practice that enhances transparency, competition, and innovation in the telecom sector.

“When citizens can see, compare, and trust the quality of services they receive, markets become fairer and innovation accelerates,” he said.

Edoyemi Ogoh, deputy director of technical standards at the NCC, urged Nigerians to report any network outage lasting more than 30 minutes to support the commission’s data collection and quality monitoring efforts.

Ali Benchekh, technical account manager at Ookla, said the data-driven insights from the NCC’s public reports will help drive transparency, build consumer trust, and improve Nigeria’s standing in the global telecom index.

“Nigeria’s network capacity for data services is generally strong, but capacity strain has been observed in major urban areas across all operators,” Benchekh said.

To ease the pressure, he recommended a multi-faceted strategy that includes aggressive 5G deployment, optimisation of existing 4G capacity, and expansion of 4G coverage into semi-urban and rural areas to bridge the digital divide.

The account manager added that improving latency and reducing jitter across networks would ensure more stable, high-quality connections for real-time applications such as video streaming and online gaming.

In addition, Benchekh said addressing coverage gaps in high-demand cities like Lagos and Abuja will be crucial to meeting growing demand from 5G-enabled devices and maintaining service reliability.