Telcos on trial: 44,678 fibre cuts, 75m paid compensations and a N550bn subscriber war

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The crisis is unfolding across several fronts. While telecom operators have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the House of Representatives’ investigation into poor network quality, the Senate has opened a separate probe into alleged airtime deductions for failed calls, dropped connections and interrupted conversations.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that operators recorded 44,678 fibre cuts between January and September 2026, with road construction, excavation, vandalism and cable connection problems among the leading causes of infrastructure disruptions.

The scale of the damage is significant because fibre-optic networks carry traffic between telecommunications base stations and other critical network infrastructure. A single damaged cable can disrupt connectivity across multiple locations, affecting voice calls, internet services and digital transactions.

Investment meets infrastructure constraints

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), argues that the persistent network problems cannot be attributed solely to operators’ investment decisions or willingness to improve services.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Adebayo disclosed that the telecommunications industry had invested more than N4 trillion in infrastructure, including approximately N2.13 trillion in capital expenditure in 2025 and a further N1.86 trillion committed for 2026.

He identified unreliable electricity, fibre-optic cable disruptions, insecurity, inconsistent Right-of-Way charges and regulatory bottlenecks as major constraints undermining network performance.

According to Adebayo, power-related challenges account for approximately 40 percent of quality-of-service incidents, while fibre cuts and disruptions contribute about 29 percent. Security challenges account for another seven percent.

He also disclosed that diesel prices increased from approximately N978 per litre in February to N2,050 in September 2026, raising the cost of powering telecommunications infrastructure.

He said the industry was not seeking exemption from accountability but an environment where infrastructure investments could translate into improved services.

The disagreement over responsibility has escalated into a constitutional dispute between telecom operators and the House of Representatives.

On November 4, ALTON, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Networks, Globacom and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services, operators of 9mobile/T2 Mobile, filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2713/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The operators are challenging summonses issued by the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating telecommunications service quality. They want the court to determine whether Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution empower lawmakers to compel the chief executives of privately licensed operators to account for commercial network performance in matters they argue fall within the NCC’s regulatory jurisdiction.

They are also seeking orders restraining the House from enforcing the summonses or issuing arrest warrants against their executives.

Adebayo has maintained that the operators are not opposed to legitimate legislative engagement but questioned whether the National Assembly could exercise investigative powers over matters already assigned to a sector-specific regulator.

He argued that legislative hearings should focus on removing infrastructure and policy constraints rather than duplicating the NCC’s regulatory responsibilities.

“Sanctions alone cannot build fibre networks, provide electricity to base stations, prevent vandalism or facilitate access to infrastructure,” he said.

During the House committee proceedings, Rep. Sunday Umeha argued that the operators could not rely on ALTON to avoid appearing individually. House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Jr. also questioned the operators’ accountability, highlighting poor coverage in some rural communities and the security implications of connectivity gaps.

The House’s position reflects growing concern that network failures have consequences beyond inconvenience, particularly as Nigerians increasingly depend on mobile connectivity for financial transactions, emergency communications and commercial activities.

While the House and operators contest the boundaries of legislative oversight, the Senate has shifted attention to the financial cost of poor network services.

Senate president Godswill Akpabio warned that the chamber could escalate the investigation and summon the communications minister, Bosun Tijani, the NCC leadership and operators if the committee failed to obtain satisfactory explanations.

The Senate’s proposed measures include refunds for verifiably failed calls, independent technical audits of billing systems and stronger enforcement of quality-of-service standards.

Compensation cannot replace reliable networks

For the NCC, compensation is part of a broader effort to improve accountability and protect consumers.

Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the commission, has repeatedly acknowledged that poor service imposes costs that airtime or data credits cannot fully address.

“Compensation matters, but it cannot recover a lost business opportunity or an important conversation that could not take place, so our priority remains reducing the failures that make it necessary,” Maida said.

The regulator has also identified fibre vandalism, equipment theft and damage during road construction as threats to network availability, while pursuing stronger infrastructure protection and coordination with relevant authorities.

Yet the continuing complaints raise questions about whether existing enforcement measures are sufficient to compel sustained improvements.

The courts will determine the constitutional boundaries of the House’s intervention, while the Senate’s four-week investigation will examine the financial implications of failed calls.

Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.