The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled its quarterly public network performance reports, a new transparency initiative designed to boost accountability, competition, and overall consumer experience in the nation’s telecom sector.
Speaking at the virtual launch on Monday, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Maida, described the publication as a major step toward data-driven, open regulation that empowers consumers, investors, and operators.
“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 added that the reports would serve as a “living accountability mechanism,” tracking Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) using large-scale crowdsourced data from users nationwide.
According to Maida, the six quarterly publications will cover national network performance, 5G rollout opportunities, device trends, technology mix, and comparative service assessments. The data will be updated regularly and published on the NCC website. By allowing the public to compare networks, he said, the reports are expected to stimulate competition and improve service delivery.
“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 added. Maida also noted that the reports would serve as an evidence-based planning tool for policymakers and investors, particularly for identifying underserved areas in need of network expansion. He said the publications will be accompanied by simple explanatory materials to help Nigerians understand how networks perform and what influences their experience. The effort, he said, aligns with the NCC’s broader mission to make regulation more open, data-centric, and consumer-focused.
Tunji Bello, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), commended the initiative, saying it would deepen accountability across the industry. “This practical step gives consumers clearer visibility into service quality and allows regulators and operators to benchmark performance more transparently,” he said.
Kashifu Inua, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), also hailed the move as a milestone for Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. “What you cannot measure, you cannot improve,” he said. “We need this data to plan, know where we are, and understand what is required to achieve our digital vision for Nigeria.”
Chip Strange, Chief Strategy Officer of Ookla, described the initiative as a global best practice that will foster innovation and consumer trust. “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, encouraged Nigerians to report any network outage lasting over 30 minutes, saying such feedback would support more accurate monitoring and enforcement.Ali Benchekh, Technical Account Manager at Ookla, noted that while Nigeria’s data service capacity is generally strong, major urban centres are experiencing strain.
He advised an integrated strategy involving aggressive 5G rollout, optimisation of existing 4G networks, and extending 4G coverage to underserved semi-urban and rural regions. Improving latency and jitter, he added, will be key for real-time services such as video streaming and online gaming. He also stressed the need to close coverage gaps in high-demand areas like Lagos and Abuja to support rising traffic from 5G-enabled devices.
Source: https://www.thecable.ng/
