In 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recorded one of its most consequential years yet, marked by decisive actions to expand broadband access, strengthen regulatory frameworks, protect consumers, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy.
From deepening infrastructure, including Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and 5G networks, to enforcing market integrity and earning global recognition, the Commission’s activities reflected a clear strategic focus: building a resilient, fair and inclusive digital communications ecosystem.
Expanding Broadband for a Digital Nigeria
A central pillar of the NCC’s 2025 agenda was broadband expansion, with the Commission intensifying efforts to meet national targets of minimum broadband speeds of 25Mbps in urban areas and improved coverage across semi-urban and rural communities.
The NCC supported the expansion of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to enhance local traffic exchange, reduce latency and lower the cost of internet access. By keeping more data traffic within Nigeria, IXPs have become critical to improving the quality of service and strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty.
At the same time, 5G deployment gained momentum in 2025. The Commission continued to work closely with licensees to ensure the responsible rollout of 5G networks, focusing on coverage expansion, infrastructure sharing and compliance with safety and quality standards. The NCC emphasised that 5G is not merely about faster internet, but about enabling innovation in sectors such as healthcare, education, fintech, manufacturing and smart cities—key drivers of national productivity.
Stronger Regulation for a Dynamic Market
Recognising the rapid evolution of the digital and telecoms landscape, the NCC in 2025 reinforced its regulatory architecture to keep pace with emerging challenges. A major highlight was the introduction of a new Corporate Governance framework for licensees, designed to promote transparency, accountability and sustainability within the industry. This move underscored the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that operators are not only profitable, but also well-governed and responsible.
The Commission also advanced the Internet Code of Practice, aimed at regulating online platforms and digital services to ensure fair practices, user safety and responsible content management. In a digital environment increasingly shaped by over-the-top (OTT) services and online platforms, the NCC signalled its intention to balance innovation with consumer rights and national interest.
Licensing reforms equally featured prominently. Through continuous review of licensing processes and conditions, the NCC sought to create a more efficient, competitive and investment-friendly telecoms market, while preventing anti-competitive practices and market abuse.
Consumer Protection and Market Integrity
Consumer protection remained a core priority for the NCC in 2025, with concrete measures introduced to improve transparency and service quality. One of the most impactful steps was mandating service providers to inform subscribers of major network outages. This requirement ensures that consumers are not left in the dark when disruptions occur and that operators are held accountable for service reliability.
In response to changing market realities, including rising operational costs and the need to sustain network investments, the NCC undertook reviews of telecom tariffs. The Commission maintained a careful balance, allowing adjustments where justified by market conditions, while ensuring affordability, fairness and value for consumers.
Market integrity was further strengthened through the enforcement of rules on Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging. By regulating A2P services, the NCC addressed issues such as spam, fraud and revenue leakage, protecting consumers while safeguarding legitimate business communications and operator revenues.
Boosting the Digital Economy
Beyond regulation and consumer protection, 2025 saw the NCC actively promoting Nigeria’s digital economy on both local and global stages. The Commission’s efforts were crowned with international recognition when Nigeria won a prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize. The award highlighted the NCC’s innovative initiatives and its role in using ICTs to drive inclusive development.
Another landmark achievement was the enforcement of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) status for telecoms infrastructure. By recognising telecom networks as critical infrastructure, the NCC strengthened protections against vandalism, theft and sabotage, thereby enhancing network resilience and service continuity nationwide. This step was widely seen as foundational to Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Clear Goals, Lasting Impact
Across its major activities in 2025, the NCC consistently pursued clear goals: achieving reliable 25Mbps broadband targets, regulating online platforms effectively, ensuring fair market practices, protecting consumers, and boosting national digital transformation.
As Nigeria continues its journey towards a fully digital economy, the NCC’s 2025 interventions stand out as a blueprint for proactive, balanced and future-focused regulation—one that supports innovation while safeguarding public interest. In an era where connectivity underpins economic growth and social inclusion, the Commission’s work in 2025 has positioned the telecoms sector as a stronger engine of national development.
