Airtel Nigeria subscribers can now see the network around them and report problems directly from their phones. The operator launched Airtel Open Network on 30 October, a feature in the MyAirtel app that shows 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G coverage maps, nearby tower locations and planned upgrades, and lets you flag dropped calls, slow data or no signal and track the complaint.
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"We know and acknowledge that there are still challenges to address, and we take those concerns seriously," said Airtel Nigeria chief executive Dinesh Balsingh.
What Open Network does
The feature sits inside the MyAirtel app, so you may need to update the app to see it. It has two jobs.
| What you can do | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check coverage | Maps for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in your area |
| Find towers | Locations of existing Airtel sites near you |
| See planned work | Scheduled network upgrades |
| Report a problem | Flag poor voice calls, slow internet, buffering video or lost connection |
| Track your report | Each complaint gets a service request number |
Airtel says the reports will help it decide which towers to upgrade first, where to put new 5G sites and how to spread its spectrum. Balsingh was clear that the tool does not fix anything on its own: it gives engineers better information about where problems actually are.
Why now
The launch comes under pressure. Airtel Nigeria drew 228,992 consumer complaints in the first half of 2026, more than MTN, Glo and T2 combined, according to NCC figures. Lawmakers have summoned the chief executives of Airtel, MTN and Glo over poor network quality and have given them until 4 November to appear.
Airtel also has numbers to show. Balsingh said the company added more than 1,050 sites in its last financial year, now has more than 17,000 sites nationwide and has added more than 1,000 5G sites in 2026, mostly in towns. Across Africa, Airtel more than doubled its capital spending to $657 million in the half year to September.
The regulator's caution
Aminu Maida, the NCC's executive vice chairman, welcomed the platform but warned that broad coverage maps can mislead. "Sometimes a high level of granularity can hide localized issues," he said, urging Airtel to look at small areas even when wider indicators look fine. He also said network information shown to customers must be accurate, easy to understand and kept up to date.
That is the right test. A map that shows strong 4G across a whole local government area is little comfort to someone whose street has none. The value of Open Network depends on how detailed and current the maps are, and on whether reports lead to visible fixes.
How to use it well
- Update MyAirtel and open the Open Network section.
- Check your area first. If the map shows 4G or 5G where you live but your phone shows less, check that 4G is switched on in your phone's network settings.
- Report from the spot. File the complaint where the problem happens, so the report carries the right location.
- Keep the service request number. If nothing improves, you can escalate to the NCC on its toll-free line 622 with that number as proof you complained first.
What it means for subscribers
Open Network will not make calls clearer overnight. What it changes is the evidence. For years, subscribers have complained on social media with no record and no reference number. Now every report is logged, located and numbered, which makes it harder for problems to disappear and easier for the NCC to check whether they were fixed.
Airtel has handed its customers a map and a complaint button. The 4 November hearing and the next NCC complaint figures will show whether the reports turn into better service.
