NCC Declines Comment On E-Transmission Debate

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has declined to take sides in the ongoing controversy over the viability of electronic transmission of election results.

While the Senate and telecom operators have exchanged words over the state of telecommunications infrastructure in the country, the commission has maintained a cautious silence.

However, a senior official of the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity with Vanguard, said the agency would not be drawn into political debates.

“These are political times and you can expect political statements and we are apolitical. But between you and I, the telcos have made enough investments that can get the country to do many things better than other countries we are emulating,” the official said.

Industry data indicate that Nigeria’s telecom sector has witnessed notable improvements since 2021, driven by increased private-sector investments and government-backed initiatives such as network optimisation and base station deployment.

Operators, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, have significantly expanded their networks. MTN reportedly committed ₦565.7bn in the first half of 2025 for fibre-to-the-home expansion, rural connectivity and network densification, while Airtel activated about 2,300 new telecom sites in the first quarter of 2025.

Broadband penetration has also crossed the 50 per cent mark, with over 109.6 million subscriptions recorded as of December 2025, up from 96.3 million in 2024.

The Federal Government has set a target of achieving 80 per cent national connectivity by 2027.

Fibre Expansion, Satellite Integration

The growth has been supported by initiatives such as Project Bridge, a national effort aimed at expanding fibre-optic infrastructure from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres.

Similarly, the 774 Local Government Connectivity Programme is designed to boost telemedicine, e-education and fintech services across the country.

Industry players are also integrating satellite broadband with the national fibre backbone to extend coverage to underserved and remote communities.

Collectively, telecom operators are said to have invested over $1bn in 2025 alone, targeting fibre roll-outs, new base stations and upgrades to 4G and 5G networks, with further investments planned this year.

Telecom operators argue that rather than questioning infrastructure adequacy, lawmakers should focus on policy reforms that address longstanding industry challenges.

They cited persistent fibre cuts, vandalism and power disruptions as vulnerabilities that weaken the system, inflate operational costs and slow expansion.

They also called for strict enforcement of the critical national infrastructure status granted to telecom facilities to curb sabotage and ensure service stability.

In addition, the operators urged the Federal Government to address regulatory fragmentation, multiple levies, high right-of-way charges and inconsistent policies, which they say increase costs and discourage expansion.