Poor service quality: what risks do Nigerien telecom operators face?
July 16th 2026
The issue of telecom service quality is common to several African countries. Consumers are increasingly demanding reliable connections and high-performance services, in a context where digital transformation is increasing connectivity needs.
In Niger, the operators Zamani, Airtel, Moov Africa, and Celtel are being targeted by the regulator for failing to meet their service quality obligations in Niamey. Having received formal notices, they have one month to rectify the identified deficiencies, with sanctions to follow.
The decision was made public by the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP) in a press release published in the government daily newspaper Le Sahel on Monday, July 13, according to local media. However, only decisions No. 008 and No. 010, dated June 10 and concerning Celtel and Moov Africa respectively, are available on the regulator’s website.
This formal notice follows a mobile service quality control audit conducted in the capital. The findings highlight several shortcomings, primarily affecting voice and mobile internet services across all operators. However, SMS service quality is deemed satisfactory. Network coverage is also generally compliant with regulatory requirements, with the exception of Zamani, which does not meet the required 4G threshold.
“Upon expiry of the allotted time, ARCEP will conduct a new service quality control campaign in Niamey to assess the corrective actions implemented by the operators. In the event of persistent deficiencies, ARCEP will initiate the procedures provided for by the applicable regulations, which may lead to the application of sanctions ,” the statement reads.
From fines to license revocation, the range of possible sanctions
The law stipulates a fine of between 1% and 3% of the previous year’s revenue. For illustrative purposes, based on the latest figures available from ARCEP (the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts), i.e., those for the 2024 fiscal year, a financial penalty applied at the minimum rate of 1% would represent nearly 1.2 billion FCFA (approximately 2 million USD) for Celtel, 660 million FCFA for Niger Telecoms, 397 million FCFA for Zamani, and 338 million FCFA for Moov Africa. At the maximum rate of 3%, the amounts could reach 3.56 billion FCFA, 1.98 billion FCFA, 1.19 billion FCFA, and 1.01 billion FCFA, respectively.
In the event of a repeat offense, this amount is doubled, without prejudice to other penalties provided for by law. Any delay in payment of the fine also exposes the operator to a penalty of 1 million CFA francs per day of delay.
Beyond financial penalties, the regulator has other levers at its disposal. It can order the total or partial suspension of the license, the reduction of its duration or scope, or even its definitive withdrawal in the most serious cases.
Is coercion enough to improve network quality?
Through these coercive measures, the telecoms regulator intends to encourage operators to guarantee consumers electronic communications services that comply with the quality, availability and performance requirements set out in the regulations.
This initiative comes at a time when subscriber complaints regarding the quality of telecom services are increasing across Africa, while digital transformation is increasing the need for reliable connectivity and access to high-performance digital services.
It remains to be seen, however, whether this coercive approach will achieve the desired results, given that it has been applied for several years on the continent without bringing about significant changes in some markets. The GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) explains this situation by pointing out that some of the targets set by regulators under what it calls the “direct approach” may prove too complex, or even unrealistic. The proliferation of indicators that are difficult to measure or harmonize could, according to the organization, produce counterproductive effects and hinder long-term investments in networks
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