Airtel Nigeria has launched a feature that allows subscribers to view nearby 4G and 5G network sites and report poor connectivity through the My Airtel Africa app.

Called Airtel Open Network, the service was introduced in Lagos on October 30, 2026. It displays network sites within a 500-metre radius of a subscriber’s location, giving users information about infrastructure in their immediate area.

Sites and planned installations shown

The platform uses visual indicators to distinguish between active sites, locations undergoing upgrades and areas where new sites are planned. Customers can also submit reports directly to Airtel when their network experience falls below expectations.

Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria’s chief executive, said the feature was intended to give customers greater insight into the operator’s network while creating a more direct feedback channel.

“With Open Network, we are giving customers greater visibility into our network and a more direct way to tell us where their experience falls short,” Balsingh said at the launch.

Nigeria is the first of Airtel Africa’s 14 operating markets to introduce the feature. Airtel said it plans to combine feedback from subscribers with infrastructure investments when deciding where network upgrades are needed. The company said reports could help engineering teams identify locations requiring improvements in coverage, capacity and reliability.

Coverage does not always mean reliable service

The launch comes as network availability and service quality remain separate issues for many mobile users in Nigeria. An assessment by the Nigerian Communications Commission, as reported by TechCabal, found that mobile signals were available along 78% of major roads, while about 42% offered stable, high-speed 4G or 5G connectivity.

The same assessment identified more than 120 critical black spots where mobile signals were completely unavailable.

Airtel has acknowledged that the presence of a nearby mast does not necessarily guarantee strong or reliable reception. Indoor coverage, building structures, handset specifications and network congestion can all affect an individual subscriber’s experience.

The NCC’s network quality assessment framework considers factors including dropped calls, congestion, network availability and data speeds. Aminu Maida, the Commission’s executive vice chairman, said its evaluations would continue to rely on evidence and industry-wide standards.

“The Commission’s assessment of service quality will continue to be guided by evidence and the standards that apply across the industry,” Maida said.

Airtel said Open Network would not automatically resolve network problems, but that the information and reports submitted through the platform could help direct attention to localised service gaps. The company plans to provide demonstrations and user guides through digital, retail and traditional media channels in the coming weeks.