Nigeria’s telecommunications industry is set to move from consolidation to expansion in 2026, driven by renewed investor confidence, rising digital demand, and stronger policy coordination, according to the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
Tony Emoekpere, ATCON President, disclosed this while sharing his outlook for the sector in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He said the industry enters 2026 with stronger fundamentals, built on collaboration among operators, regulators, and the Federal Government to deepen digital inclusion.
Reflecting on 2025, Emoekpere described the year as one of stabilisation and capital discipline. Despite mounting pressures, including high energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, expensive equipment imports, and persistent Right-of-Way (RoW) challenges, industry players remained committed to growth.
Rather than retreat, telecom operators, tower companies, and internet service providers focused on network densification in high-demand areas and accelerated the adoption of solar and hybrid energy solutions to cut diesel dependence.
Emoekpere noted that broadband penetration crossed the 50 per cent mark in 2025, citing Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data. He attributed the milestone to surging data consumption, driven by the widespread use of digital payments, streaming services, cloud computing, and other online platforms.
He also praised the NCC for sustaining investor confidence through transparent industry reporting, enforcement of Quality of Service standards, and effective spectrum management.
“If 2025 was about endurance, 2026 must be about execution, speed, and scale,” Emoekpere said, adding that growing demand from fintech, artificial intelligence, and other data-intensive sectors will fuel expansion.
Looking ahead, he said operators plan to step up investments in data centres and last-mile broadband infrastructure, including fibre-to-the-home and fixed wireless access. He stressed that firm enforcement of telecom assets as critical national infrastructure would be crucial to sustaining growth.
Emoekpere also called for stronger protection of fibre routes and telecom towers against vandalism, harmonisation of Right-of-Way charges across states, and a reduction in multiple taxation, which he said continues to burden operators.
While broadband penetration has surpassed 50 per cent for the first time since the launch of the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), Emoekpere acknowledged that Nigeria is unlikely to meet the plan’s 70 per cent target by the end of 2025. However, he expressed optimism that the expected expansion phase in 2026 would accelerate progress and unlock greater value across the digital economy.
