…urges Tower companies to increase investments in infrastructure
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a order directing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide compensation to subscribers who experience network quality below specified performance targets.
This regulatory shift ensures that consumers no longer bear the full burden of service disruptions when operators fail to meet prescribed standards.
Under the new framework, erring operators are mandated to compensate affected users for breaches of Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) recorded within specific time frames.
These compensations will be issued as airtime credits, with the value calculated based on the subscriber’s average spending patterns and their location within Local Government Areas where service failures occurred.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commission noted that this approach moves beyond traditional regulatory fines to a more consumer-centric model that prioritizes accountability.
By placing the consumer at the center of the telecommunications ecosystem, the NCC aims to mitigate the negative impacts of poor service on economic productivity and public confidence.
To complement these measures, the Commission is also directing Tower Companies to reinvest the sums from their fines into measurable infrastructure upgrades, such as masts, to improve the underlying network foundation.
While enforcing these new standards, the NCC reiterated the ongoing obligation for operators to invest in network resilience and capacity expansion.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to deploying regulatory tools that promote transparency and fairness, ensuring subscribers receive the quality of service necessary to power Nigeria’s digital future.
