IHS, ATC, get two-month deadline to improve internet quality

Nigeria’s top tower operators, including IHS Towers, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Pan-African Towers, and other key stakeholders like the internet network providers. American Tower Corporation (ATC) has been given a two-month ultimatum by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve the country’s deteriorating internet quality or face regulatory action.

This directive was given due to widespread complaints from subscribers over slow data speeds, frequent disconnections, and inconsistent network coverage across the country. According to the NCC, these issues stem largely from the poor performance of tower infrastructure companies, which are responsible for maintaining the base stations and other critical hardware that support mobile and internet connectivity.

“Quality of service is non-negotiable,” said Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, on Thursday in Abuja. 

The NCC is particularly concerned about the reliability of passive infrastructure such as cell towers and power supply systems that are often shared by multiple network providers. The regulator said it would begin enforcement actions after the deadline, including fines, sanctions, or revocation of licenses for non-compliant operators.

The move signals a tougher stance by the NCC amid rising digital dependence in Nigeria, where mobile data remains the backbone of communication, business, and daily life. Industry watchers say this could force infrastructure providers like IHS Towers and ATC Nigeria to step up investments in maintenance, energy stability, and capacity expansion.

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