The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed Mobile Network Operators to compensate subscribers in areas where network quality falls below prescribed standards.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, said affected users would receive airtime credits calculated based on their average spending patterns and their presence within local government areas experiencing service disruptions.

“Subscribers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery,” the statement read.

“The compensation will be provided in the form of airtime credits, calculated based on subscribers’ average spending patterns and their presence within local government areas where service failures occur.”

The NCC said the directive aligns with its consumer-centric regulatory approach, aimed at placing subscribers at the heart of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.

It noted that telecommunications services play a critical role in economic activity, social interaction, and access to digital opportunities, stressing that poor service quality undermines productivity, commercial operations, and public confidence in the communications system.

As part of measures to improve network performance, the regulator also directed Tower Companies, owners of critical infrastructure such as masts, to reinvest fines imposed on them into tangible infrastructure upgrades.

“The commission will continue to reinforce the obligation of operators to invest consistently in network resilience, capacity expansion, and infrastructure upgrades to meet the growing demand for telecommunications services,” it said.

The NCC added that it would continue to deploy regulatory measures to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability, ensuring subscribers receive the quality of service they deserve.

It further mandated Tower Companies to channel fines into infrastructure development with measurable outcomes, alongside any additional sanctions deemed necessary by the Commission.