Boosting Nigeria’s Network: Can the NCC-Swedfund Real-Time Data Tracking Deliver?

For years, Nigeria’s telecommunications industry has grappled with persistent challenges—dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and poor network coverage that continue to frustrate consumers. Now, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has partnered with Swedfund, Sweden’s Development Finance Institution, in an effort to change that.

At the heart of this collaboration is the Crowdsourcing Quality of Experience (QoE) project, which will collect real-time data directly from end-user devices to assess network performance. The idea is simple: instead of relying on telecom operators’ reports, the NCC will have unfiltered insights into service quality from the consumer’s perspective. In theory, this approach could significantly improve regulation, but whether it will translate into better services for Nigerians is another matter entirely.

A New Approach to Network Monitoring

For years, Nigeria’s telecom operators have largely set the narrative around network performance, providing regulators with self-reported data that often lacks transparency. By shifting to a system where quality is assessed directly through real-time user feedback, the NCC is introducing a new layer of accountability.

With this initiative, telcos will no longer be able to gloss over service failures or attribute poor performance to generic industry-wide challenges. Instead, the NCC will have access to concrete, location-specific data, allowing for targeted interventions in areas suffering from weak signals, slow internet speeds, or frequent call drops. This approach, if enforced effectively, could significantly improve network quality across the country.

The Challenge of Enforcement

While access to real-time data is a step forward, the real test lies in how the NCC enforces compliance. Historically, regulatory enforcement in Nigeria’s telecom sector has been inconsistent. While the commission has imposed fines on operators for poor service delivery, these penalties have often been reactionary rather than proactive, and their impact on improving service quality has been limited.

A Step in the Right Direction, But Will It Deliver?

The NCC-Swedfund partnership is an important move toward improving Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, but its success depends on more than just collecting real-time data. Effective implementation, strong regulatory enforcement, and industry cooperation will determine whether this initiative leads to meaningful improvements or remains just another policy announcement.

If the NCC takes decisive action based on the data, holds telcos accountable, and ensures that service upgrades extend beyond urban centres, this project could mark a turning point for network quality in Nigeria. However, without sustained pressure and investment, the same challenges that have plagued the industry for years may persist, leaving consumers with little more than promises of better service.