Globacom, Nigeria’s only fully indigenous telecoms operator, has announced a major upgrade to its network backbone infrastructure. According to the company, the purpose of this upgrade is to enhance voice and data services, with the goal of delivering an enhanced customer experience across all its customers.
Although promising, the announcement raises the question of whether it will actually solve the long-standing service problems faced by Nigerian users.
A Technical Backbone Refresh
According to the company, this major upgrade will involve upgrading its fibre optic backbone across key regions of the country. Its backbone, which is the primary high-speed data highway that connects different regions and powers mobile services, plays a crucial role in ensuring network stability, download speeds, and call quality.
Glo says the transformation will lead to an improvement in latency, reduced downtime, and enhanced management of large data volumes, particularly given the increasing popularity of streaming, remote work permits or the adoption of digital payments at a more extensive scale among Nigerians. For a country with rising digital infrastructure demands, this kind of investment is both timely and necessary.
A History of Promise vs. Performance
This is a positive development, at least on paper. Glo’s performance hasn’t always matched its ambitions. The company has been criticized for its massive fibre network and unreliable customer service, as well as being the first to introduce an undersea cable (Glo-1), which is considered inferior in terms of internet speed.
Glo has been found to have inferior 4G speeds compared to MTN and Airtel, as per various third-party reports, including Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index. Even many loyal users myself included at one point often kept a second SIM from another provider just to stay connected.
While infrastructure upgrades are essential, they are only a small part of the problem. Not only is the backbone a critical factor, but also last-mile infrastructure, network optimization, customer service, and sustained operational investment are crucial to network quality.
A Move in the Correct Direction
But this is still a step forward. Nigeria’s internet usage is being heavily reliant on mobile networks, with more than 80% of it being consumed via data networks. The increasing popularity of video streaming, remote collaboration tools, and fintech apps means that a weak backbone won’t cut it anymore.
If Globacom delivers on this promise and follows it with ongoing optimization, transparent reporting, and consistent customer support, it could regain the confidence of users who may have already switched providers out of frustration.
The decision to proceed indicates Glo’s determination to remain competitive in a market that is increasingly influenced by data. Nigerian consumers will experience a growing demand for 5G as operators invest more in capacity expansion.
Glo has the infrastructure. It has the reach. It has gained brand loyalty, at least among those who remember its early innovations. Achieving its potential requires consistency.
If the upgrade doesn’t result in better call quality and more reliable internet access, it will be a long overdue benefit for millions of Nigerian users.
