MTN vs Airtel vs Glo vs T2mobile: Which Network Has the Most Complaints in 2026?

If you have ever complained about poor network service, disappearing data, failed airtime purchases or a billing issue, you are certainly not alone.

Nigeria's telecommunications sector recorded 413,587 consumer complaints between January and June 2026, according to data published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The complaints covered issues including network quality, data depletion, billing, failed transactions, airtime and top-up problems, SIM-related issues and other service concerns.

But which network received the most complaints?

MTN vs Airtel vs Glo vs T2mobile

According to the NCC data for the first half of 2026:

Airtel recorded the largest number of complaints, followed by MTN, Glo and T2mobile.

However, there is an important point to understand before declaring one network the "worst."

More complaints does not automatically mean worse service

Airtel having the highest number of complaints does not, by itself, prove that Airtel provides the worst service.

The networks have different numbers of subscribers, so a fair comparison needs to take subscriber numbers into account.

The NCC publishes complaints per 1,000 subscribers specifically to provide a more balanced comparison between operators of different sizes.

So the raw complaint figures tell us where complaints were concentrated, but they should not be interpreted as a simple ranking of network quality.

What are Nigerians complaining about?

The complaints cover several areas of the customer experience.

1. Data depletion

Data usage has become one of the biggest frustrations for Nigerian mobile users.

Between January and June 2026, the four major operators recorded 23,396 complaints specifically relating to data depletion.

MTN recorded 12,212 of these complaints, followed by Airtel with 9,806, Glo with 1,373 and T2mobile with five.

Fast data consumption can have several causes, including high-definition video, automatic video playback, software updates, cloud backups and applications running in the background.

That does not mean every complaint about disappearing data is caused by the customer's device, however. The figures show that data depletion remains a significant consumer concern.

2. Poor network quality

Dropped calls, slow internet speeds and unreliable connectivity continue to generate complaints.

This has become particularly important because Nigerians increasingly depend on mobile networks for banking, business, education, communication and everyday transactions.

The issue is serious enough that the House of Representatives recently gave MTN, Airtel, Glo, Mafab and other operators seven days to explain persistent network-quality problems. The companies were directed to appear before a committee on October 28, 2026.

3. Billing and charges

Billing disputes are another major source of complaints.

Customers may question unexpected charges, deductions, subscriptions or the amount they have been billed for telecommunications services.

These complaints matter because mobile connectivity is now an essential service for many Nigerians rather than something used only for calls and text messages.

4. Failed airtime and data purchases

Another common problem is paying for airtime or data and not receiving the expected value.

The NCC said nearly three million subscribers had received refunds for failed airtime and data purchases in 2026.

For consumers, the problem is particularly frustrating when money leaves a bank account but the purchased airtime or data does not arrive.

Which network resolves complaints best?

This is where the numbers become more interesting.

Although the four operators recorded 413,587 complaints, they reported resolving 406,938, equivalent to 98.38% of the total.

Reported resolution rates were:

• Airtel — 99.38%

• Glo — 99.04%

• MTN — 96.57%

• T2mobile — 88.57%

So while Airtel recorded the largest number of complaints, it also reported the highest resolution rate among the four operators.

This is why simply saying "Airtel has the most complaints, therefore Airtel is the worst" would be misleading.

The number of complaints and the way those complaints are handled are two different things.

Nigerians are also being compensated for poor service

There has been a significant change in consumer protection in 2026.

The NCC's compensation framework took effect in April 2026. Eligible subscribers affected by prolonged or repeated poor service in qualifying areas can receive automatic airtime compensation when operators fail to meet prescribed quality-of-service standards.

The NCC announced in October that 75 million subscribers had received airtime compensation for poor telecommunications service in 2026, while nearly three million subscribers had received refunds for failed airtime and data purchases.

The Commission has also reported more than 6,500 network interventions during the year, including equipment upgrades and capacity expansion.

That shows that network problems are not simply being ignored. Regulators and operators are taking steps to address them.

The bigger question is whether those measures are improving the everyday experience of customers.

So, which Nigerian network is the worst?

There isn't enough evidence in the raw complaint totals alone to fairly declare one network the worst.

Airtel recorded the highest number of complaints in the first half of 2026, but it also reported a 99.38% resolution rate.

MTN recorded the second-highest number of complaints and the highest number of data-depletion complaints.

Glo recorded fewer complaints than MTN and Airtel, while reporting a 99.04% resolution rate.

T2mobile recorded the fewest complaints, but also had the lowest reported resolution rate at 88.57%.

The better question for consumers is therefore not simply:

"Which network has the most complaints?"

It is:

"Which network provides the best experience where I live and how well does it handle problems when things go wrong?"

Your location matters

A network that works extremely well in Lagos may not perform the same way in another part of Nigeria.

Coverage, congestion, infrastructure, fibre cuts, power availability and local network conditions can all affect your experience.

That means customer reviews can provide useful information alongside official network statistics.

Before choosing or switching networks, consider:

• Network coverage where you live

• Performance at your workplace

• Call quality

• Internet speed

• Data value

• Customer service

• How quickly complaints are resolved

• Experiences from people in your area

What should you do when your network fails you?

The NCC recommends that consumers first complain directly to their service provider.

When making a complaint:

1. Contact your network provider through an official channel.

2. Explain the problem clearly.

3. Ask for a complaint or ticket reference number.

4. Keep screenshots, transaction records and other evidence.

5. Give the provider the required time to resolve the issue.

6. If the issue remains unresolved, escalate it to the NCC.

The NCC Consumer Portal advises subscribers to keep their complaint reference number because it can be required when escalating an unresolved complaint to the regulator.

What does this mean for Nigerian consumers?

The 2026 figures show something important.

Nigeria's telecom customers are not simply complaining about one isolated problem. Complaints span network quality, data, billing, transactions and customer service.

At the same time, the majority of reported complaints were resolved, and millions of consumers have received refunds or compensation where applicable.

So rather than relying on one statistic or one person's experience, consumers should look at multiple sources of information before deciding which service provider to use.

Check what other Nigerians are saying

Official statistics tell us what is happening across the telecommunications industry.

Customer reviews tell us what people actually experience.

That's why reviews matter.

On Truxper, Nigerians can search for businesses and service providers, read customer experiences and share their own experiences.

If you have had a good or bad experience with a business or service provider, your review could help someone else make a better decision.

Search. Check. Review. Decide.

👉 Visit Truxper: https://truxper.com

Final verdict

So, which network has the most complaints in Nigeria in 2026?

Airtel recorded the highest number of complaints in the first half of the year, with 228,992, followed by MTN with 124,405, Glo with 56,810 and T2mobile with 3,885.

But those numbers alone do not tell us which network is "the worst."

Subscriber numbers, complaint rates, network performance in specific locations and how effectively each operator resolves complaints all matter.

For Nigerian consumers, the safest approach is to check the evidence, consider experiences in your area and look at what other customers are saying before making a decision.

Rate Before You Pay.

Source

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — Consumer Complaint Statistics.

The NCC publishes monthly consumer complaint data, including total complaints and complaints per 1,000 subscribers.

Official NCC data: https://www.ncc.gov.ng/market-data-reports/consumer-complaint-statistics