The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced the release of its latest technical report, “Unpacking Network Capacity: Insights on Download Speeds and Network Reliability for the Nigerian Consumer,” conducted in collaboration with global broadband intelligence firm, Ookla. The report provides a granular analysis of network performance across the country, focusing specifically on capacity constraints affecting the quality of service (QoS) for consumers.
The core finding of the report confirms that while the overall national network capacity for data services remains generally strong, capacity congestion is an overwhelmingly urban problem. This restriction is highly localized and concentrated in high-traffic, high-density metropolitan zones, including major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, and has been observed across all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
Defining the Capacity Crunch and Consumer Impact
The Commission officially defines a “Capacity Limitation” as an occurrence where the Day Speed (measured between 06:00 and 23:59) drops below 50% of the Night Speed (measured between 00:00 and 06:00) in a specific area.
This peak-hour congestion translates directly into a degraded Quality of Experience (QoE) for consumers. The tangible impacts include frequent dropped video calls and poor video call quality, pervasive buffering on streaming services, slow downloads, and most critically, failed mobile payments during peak business hours. The study notes that students in high-density areas are particularly struggling with e-learning applications as a result of these network constraints.
Analysis of Download and Upload Constraints by Operator
The report highlights that download speeds are the most significantly impacted aspect of service during the high-demand periods. The analysis of the measured urban surface area affected by these download slowdowns shows that MTN recorded a 4.0% urban proportion affected, while Airtel followed at 2.0%, and Glo at 1.3%. The national proportion affected across the country remains minimal, reinforcing the localized nature of the problem.
Furthermore, upload capacity restrictions are also primarily concentrated in urban zones, with the impact on rural service being extremely low. MTN and Airtel both recorded 0.8% of the measured urban surface area as affected by upload constraints, while Glo registered 0.4%. The concentration of capacity issues in urban centers, and the extremely low impact on rural service, strongly reinforces the Commission’s position that this is a localized issue tied to high-density areas where the volume of active users exceeds network design capacity.
NCC’s Strategic Roadmap for Sustainable Connectivity
The Nigerian Communications Commission reiterates that targeted infrastructure investment is the most critical strategy for alleviating this urban capacity strain. The path forward is a multi-faceted approach focused on two key priorities:
- Accelerated Deployment of 5G Technology in dense urban areas to provide the necessary capacity and speed uplift.
- Optimization of the Existing 4G (LTE) Network infrastructure to maximize its capacity and enhance user experience stability.
The NCC is dedicated to ensuring transparency and fostering a competitive environment that robustly drives all operators to eliminate these local bottlenecks, thereby securing consistent and reliable connectivity for every Nigerian consumer. Our commitment is to close the gap between the speed available at night and the congestion experienced during the day, guaranteeing a high-quality digital experience for all citizens.
ANTHONY EMEKA NWOSU
The report highlights that download speeds are the most significantly impacted aspect of service during the high-demand periods. The analysis of the measured urban surface area affected by these download slowdowns shows that MTN recorded a 4.0% urban proportion affected, while Airtel followed at 2.0%, and Glo at 1.3%. The national proportion affected across the country remains minimal, reinforcing the localized nature of the problem.
