By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Mobile Network Operators have deployed 8,526 of the 12,179 additional network coverage and capacity sites they committed to providing nationwide, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed.
The commission disclosed this in a communiqué issued by its Office of the Commission Secretary at the end of its 110th board meeting, held on Wednesday, 9 September, 2026.
NCC said the deployed sites represent about 70 per cent of operators’ commitments to expanding network coverage, capacity and quality of experience, marking accelerated progress from roughly 5,000 sites reported at the previous board meeting.
Despite the progress, the commission raised concern over the effect of fibre cuts on telecommunications services, noting that the incidents contributed to a sharp rise in network disruptions in June.
The board stressed that infrastructure expansion must be matched with stronger protection of critical communications infrastructure to improve network resilience and service reliability.
NCC also disclosed that its Device Management System (DMS) is now live and supporting enhanced compliance with type-approval requirements.
It said the system would strengthen its ability to verify device compliance, discourage the circulation of non-compliant devices and deter mobile device theft by enabling stolen devices to be blocked across Nigerian networks once reported.
The board further disclosed that the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), along with its associated business rules, is scheduled to go live in October 2026.
According to the commission, TIRMS will strengthen the governance of telecommunications identities, including mobile numbers, and reduce risks linked to their misuse, reassignment and recycling, a system it described as increasingly vital as telecommunications identities become more tied to financial, social and other digital services.
On digital inclusion, the board reviewed progress on a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content, an initiative designed to improve students’ access to educational resources.
NCC said the initiative was officially launched on September 10, with its go-live date fixed for October 1, 2026, and commended the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for their collaboration in advancing it.
On the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), the board considered recommendations for the institute’s strategic repositioning, including a roadmap to strengthen its relevance and long-term sustainability.
It said the repositioning would be implemented in phases, supported by two independent consultancies: one to audit DBI’s structure, operations, human resources and institutional position, and the other to assess the commercial and legal viability of the proposed repositioning.
The board also expressed concern over the resurgence of call masking in the telecommunications industry, reiterating the commission’s zero-tolerance position on the practice, which it described as unacceptable and a serious regulatory concern.
NCC said call masking undermines legitimate telecommunications operations, distorts industry revenues and constitutes economic sabotage capable of adversely affecting the national economy.
It added that it would continue collaborating with security and law-enforcement agencies, as well as industry stakeholders, to identify, prevent and eliminate the practice.
The board said the commission would sustain regulatory actions aimed at strengthening network resilience, digital trust, inclusive connectivity, consumer protection, fair competition and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy
