Globacom Network Upgrade Draws Mixed Reactions from Subscribers

Globacom, Nigeria’s third-largest mobile network provider, has  started a major network upgrade project across the country. While the company promises better service quality and faster internet speeds, many subscribers are showing concerns with the ongoing disturbances  to their communication needs.

A nationwide network upgrade with the aim to improve service quality and expand coverage, according to recent news. The upgrade includes installing new base stations, moving fiber cables to safer locations, and expanding 4G LTE coverage to deliver faster data speeds. 

Despite Globacom’s efforts to improve its network, many users are not happy with the current situation. The upgrade process has caused temporary service interruptions, leaving subscribers unable to make calls, send messages, or access the internet when they need it most. The timing couldn’t be worse for Globacom, which has been struggling to keep its customers satisfied. Customer dissatisfaction  with Globacom’s services has become more frequent , with widespread complaints about unstable connectivity, slow internet speeds, and poor customer support.

Although a large number of subscribers attested to Globacom’s better service delivery, some voiced their displeasure with the network’s poor quality of service.

Emmanuel Chukwufumnaya, a University of Lagos student, said that Globacom service was restored on Tuesday and that his N7,000 data purchase, which had not been credited at first, was now operational.

This indicates that there was an issue, but it appears to have been fixed. After I got a message about network improvement, the refund arrived almost instantly,” he remarked.

Like many others, Tobechukwu Agiri, a civil servant, reported that Globacom had enhanced the quality of her services.

“All day long, internet service has been smooth and quick,” she remarked.

Anthonia Onyinyechukwu, a student, claimed that she had seen little to no improvement in the network service and that it was still bad.

The poor service was also bemoaned by Okunzuwa Ighodaro, a youth corps member, who stated, “I haven’t been able to retrieve my lost SIM for the past one month.”

“A code needed to activate my bank account was sent to the SIM I’m attempting to recover, so I can’t even take money from it.

“I’ve been dealing with this since the beginning of July, and I find it really annoying,” he remarked.

Additionally, Chinyere Joel reported that her phone’s service had not improved and was still showing “no service.”

“It hasn’t improved in more than two weeks, and it’s having a major impact on my workflow,” she continued.

Globacom lost over 3.2 million internet subscribers between December 2024 and May 2025. The mobile service provider has been losing customers at an alarming rate. Globacom was required to recount its active subscriber base, it was noted that about 40 million subscribers were inactive in the last 90 days after the Nigerian Communications Commission established clearer guidelines for network providers to be more open about their subscriber base.

One reason for the upgrade is the  problem of stolen and damaged fiber cables. Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has announced a network improvement project across Nigeria to improve  customer experience and service  to address these security concerns. The company is relocating its fiber cables to more secure locations to prevent future damage.

Globacom, a telecommunications operator, previously described the ongoing network upgrade efforts that are intended to improve the client experience.

While the promise of better service is welcome news, the current upgrade makes it difficult to make important phone calls for business or emergencies, access social media and messaging apps, use mobile banking services, stream videos or download files, and work from home effectively. Many subscribers are questioning whether they should switch to other networks like MTN or Airtel, which have been gaining market share while Globacom struggles.

The company is hoping  that these short-term inconveniences will lead to long-term customer satisfaction and loyalty.

However, the success of this upgrade will  depend on whether Globacom can deliver on its promises of better service quality, faster internet speeds, and more reliable connectivity. With millions of subscribers already leaving for competitors, the company needs to show results quickly.

If Globacom’s upgrade doesn’t deliver the promised improvements soon, the company may 

find itself losing even more subscribers to rivals who offer more consistent service. For now, Globacom subscribers will need to be patient as the company works to strengthen its network infrastructure.

Subscribers were given the company’s word that these continuous efforts will lead to better network quality, more extensive coverage, and improved service delivery.

“Faster data speeds and improved network performance are what customers can anticipate.”

With an emphasis on growing its LTE footprint to increase data reliability, Globacom plans to install more than 1,000 additional stations over the course of the upcoming year.

In order to provide more reliable service, it is also expanding fibre connections to a large number of its hub locations.

In order to lower carbon emissions, the corporation is also investing in hybrid power solutions, which use batteries rather than generators at its locations across the country.

Even though telecom infrastructure was being recognised as important national infrastructure, the corporation expressed concern about ongoing destruction of its network equipment despite these investments.

Globacom demanded more forceful measures to stop the sabotage.