In 2026, Nigeria's telecommunications sector can no longer hide behind growth figures and subscriber numbers. The sector has matured. Expectations are high. Patience wears thin. And the questions Nigerians are asking are no longer just about access, but about value, quality and fairness.
After tariff hikes, USSD controversies and the 2025 service quality debate, the coming year represents the moment of truth. These are seven crucial issues that will decide whether telecommunications will deepen its role as an economic enabler or become a source of growing despair.
The tariff must ultimately justify itself: the argument for higher tariffs is reluctantly given and accepted. In 2026, the debate focused on why prices increased and what Nigerians got in return.
If calls continue to drop, data speeds remain inconsistent, and outages continue unabated, public resistance will stiffen. Regulators should insist that pricing approvals be linked to visible network improvements. Anything less risks undermining the industry's social license.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will undoubtedly face increasing pressure to link pricing approvals to measurable quality of service (QoS) improvements. Failure to bridge the gap between cost and experience could further escalate public backlash. Fortunately, NCC has started showing its strength. In December, it urged operators to downsize or prepare for restrictions.
Data availability and affordability is strategic: data is life. Airtel got it right. Data has become infrastructure. From fintech and education to governance and commerce, Nigeria's digital economy runs on connectivity. Yet the capability remains fragile.
In 2026, the sector will face a serious dilemma: how to maintain operator revenues without driving millions of Nigerians out of the digital sector. Keeping people out of data access undermines productivity, innovation and inclusion. There will be increasing pressure for creative pricing models that balance sustainability with scale.
There should also be targeted interventions such as special student data schemes, zero-rated educational platforms, or public-private broadband initiatives that aim to preserve inclusion while maintaining commercial viability.
MVNOs can play an important role here.
As a test of USSD inclusion, not just billing: USSD services will be under intense scrutiny in 2026. The USSD billing reform may have solved one problem, transparency, but it has exposed another: affordability at the bottom of the pyramid.
In a country where millions of people still depend on basic phones, USSD remains the backbone of financial inclusion. If cumulative session fees become punitive, Nigeria risks locking out the very people digital finance was supposed to empower.
Thus, there may be fresh talks in the coming year between telecom companies, banks and regulators to strike a better balance, possibly through capped charges, bundled services or partial subsidies, to ensure that financial inclusion is not undermined. Reports indicate that the CBN and NCC are already in talks to introduce an improved version of the service.
Infrastructure security will separate talk from action: Nigeria cannot build a digital economy on fragile, vulnerable infrastructure. Every fiber cut, base station sabotage or power disruption weakens the system. These challenges not only degrade user experience but also increase operating costs and slow network expansion.
2026 should be the year when telecommunications assets will be clearly treated as critical national infrastructure, actively protected, prioritized and defended. Without this change, service quality debates will remain cyclical and unresolved.
Better collaboration between operators, security agencies and state governments can significantly enhance network reliability and investor confidence.
Regulatory costs are the silent inflation driver: much of the amount paid by customers is driven not just by operator inefficiency, but by systemic regulatory fragmentation, right-of-way fees, multiple levies and inconsistent state policies.
If Nigeria is serious about affordable broadband, 2026 must bring meaningful progress in reconciling these costs. Any meaningful progress in this area could reduce deployment costs, accelerate fiber rollouts and ultimately be reflected in consumer pricing.
Otherwise, operators will continue to pass on value chain inefficiencies to consumers.
5G must prove its economic value: The novelty phase of 5G is over. 2026 will test whether it moves beyond urban showcase towards broader economic relevance. Now the question is, what problem does 5G solve for Nigeria?
In addition to faster downloads, 5G should support industry, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and smart infrastructure. If it remains an urban, premium-user product, the impact will be marginal. Purpose, not speed, will define success.
trust will become the ultimate currency
Perhaps the most important issue in 2026 is that of trust.
Unexplained data shortages, opaque billing, poor customer service and regulatory silence have strained relations between telecom companies and customers. Growth without trust is fragile.
Rebuilding trust will require transparency, accountability and genuine consumer engagement. Regulators must be seen to act decisively, and operators must communicate honestly. Without trust, even the best technology will struggle for acceptance.
The truth is that Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is entering 2026 with great strength and equally great responsibility.
But it's not just about expansion anymore. It's about alignment: aligning prices with performance, innovation with inclusion, and profitability with public interest.
If the industry gets this right, telecoms will remain the backbone of Nigeria's digital future. If it goes wrong, resistance – regulatory, political and public – will intensify.
2026 will tell us which path Nigeria’s telecommunications sector chooses.
Written by corporate communications expert and sustainability advocate Aeromosele [email protected],
