Telcos Pump N824.7bn into Network Expansion Amid Subscriber Outrage over Poor Service
Nigeria’s leading telecom operators, MTN and Airtel, have collectively invested over N824.7 billion in network infrastructure and expansion in the first half of 2025. MTN led with a dramatic 288.4% year-on-year increase in capital expenditure, totaling N565.7 billion. This was channeled into expanding 4G sites, fibre-to-the-home coverage, and launching a Tier III data centre as part of a $240 million data infrastructure project. Airtel followed with $168 million (N259 billion) in capital investment, signalling one of the sector’s most aggressive investment periods.
Despite this spending spree, customer dissatisfaction remains widespread, with many subscribers lamenting poor connectivity, dropped calls, and vanishing data. Students, small business owners, and professionals report persistent service failures, questioning the effectiveness of such massive capital deployment. The irony is heightened by telcos’ rising revenues—MTN and Airtel raked in a combined N2.532 trillion in H1 2025, largely from data and voice services.
Telecom analysts and stakeholders suggest that the full benefits of these investments may not be felt until 2026 or 2027, as infrastructure upgrades take time to reflect in service quality. ATCON president Tony Emoekpere confirmed renewed investment activity but highlighted import delays and equipment sourcing challenges. Jide Awe, another analyst, raised concerns about whether investments are being made in the right places, calling for transparency in infrastructure rollout.
Compounding subscriber frustration is the recent tariff adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which raised prices for calls, SMS, and data. Consumers argue they are now paying more for services that have not improved, and advocacy groups like NATCOMS have called for stronger regulatory monitoring to ensure that massive revenues and investments lead to tangible improvements in user experience.
In response, the NCC has identified three urgent issues—poor network quality, data depletion, and failed airtime top-ups—as key complaint areas from 2024. To address these, the regulator has revised its quality of service regulations, mandating accountability from telcos to infrastructure partners. However, unless telecom operators quickly translate investments into better services, analysts warn of growing public backlash and possible regulatory clampdowns.
Source: Business day