Telecom Stakeholders Cite Power Issues for Service Complaints

Telecom industry stakeholders have identified unreliable electricity, fibre cuts, and multiple taxes and levies as key factors contributing to the ongoing poor quality of service (QoS) in Nigeria. Despite attracting over $75 billion in investments over the past 25 years, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported 413,587 complaints from four major operators (Airtel, MTN, Globacom, and T2mobile) between January and June 2026.

Airtel had the highest number of complaints at 228,992, followed by MTN with 124,405, Globacom with 56,810, and T2mobile with 3,885. The operators resolved 406,938 complaints, equating to 98.38 percent of the total.

Data depletion emerged as a prominent concern, with 23,396 complaints specifically related to this issue. The NCC has linked rapid data consumption to factors such as high-definition video streaming and automatic updates.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, emphasized that improving QoS requires addressing broader operational challenges rather than relying solely on regulatory penalties.