Telecom
How to Solve Your Network Performance Problems
Everyone wants their internet and private networks functioning at top levels all day, every day. For many people, it means quicker responses to queries, seamless communication, and tasks getting completed in good time. It’s what makes work smooth and productive for many people and businesses.
We get frustrated when networks degrade or fail. Our work slows down and productivity levels dip. And if connectivity is an important part of your business’s service delivery, your customers may experience network defects as a poor product of customer experience coming from your end.
If you don’t solve the problem early enough, you could lose clients. In the end, it might cost you a lot of (unearned) money.
So you’ll want to deal with your network issues as quickly as you can. Even better, you should be preventing them from happening in the first place.
First, you need to know what network performance issues you’re most likely to face. When you’ve learned this, you’ll be better able to prevent them, or deal with them if they crop up.
Common Network Performance Issues that Businesses Face
- Congested Bandwidth
Maybe you often use more data at any given time than your bandwidth can take care of. It’s not large enough to accommodate the amount of traffic that goes through your networks. If you have the right monitoring tools, you’ll see what users and devices contribute the most to the congestion.
- Failed Hardware
In some cases, network outages are the result of failed devices in the network infrastructure. Common culprits in this category include broken cables and damaged switches. Disabled devices can also cause networks to slow down or shut down.
- Network Loop
A network loop is when there are multiple paths to two endpoints on a network. This usually happens if there’s a problem with the way the network is configured. When there’s a loop, traffic keeps going back to its source– and growing in the process –instead of stopping at its destination. The expanding traffic will choke your bandwidth and slow your network.
- Incorrect Device Configuration
When devices are poorly configured, they won’t function as they should. This, in turn, causes performance problems for the networks that they support, or are a part of.
- Hidden Devices
Your employees may have connected more devices or applications to your network than what’s officially accounted for. These additions could be slowing your network speed. Unless you have a network monitoring tool or system that tracks these things, you won’t know what’s weakening your network’s performance.
- Prolonged Backup Process
Let’s say you set data backup to happen overnight. But for some reason, it extends into the working day. If it’s still going on during work hours, it could impede traffic on your networks. Prolonged backup processes, regardless of when they’re initiated, will slow down other significant traffic being generated at the same time.
How Do You Know When You Have a Network Problem?
There could be a problem with your network if you detect any of these things:
- Network services are not available for your users at a particular time
- Increased network latency (i.e. slow network)
- Complaints about slow response times from your end-users
- Clients frequently get disconnected from your applications
How to Solve Your Network Problems
Here’s how to prevent common network issues from cropping up, and deal with them if they arise.
- Increase Your Network Visibility
Deploy network monitoring tools to help you track the traffic on your networks. They will give you greater visibility of your networks and reveal what the data consuming users and devices are, so you can curb the excess traffic that may be coming from them.
- Prioritize Applications
Assign more bandwidth to applications that are closer to the top of your priority list, and less to those closer to the bottom. You may even have to remove some applications from your systems if they don’t contribute to your operations or productivity.
- Use Compression
One way to free up your network channels is to compress large files before sharing them. There’s a catch: it may take a while to compress files, especially if they’re really large. If you’re dealing with transactions, you will be better off adopting a technology that enables the speedy transmission of data instead.
- Time Your Traffic
This solves the problem of backup-induced network slowdowns. You can restrict heavy-duty work like backups to times in which networks have little else passing through them. This spreads out your traffic more evenly across the time that you have.
- Shut Out Junk Traffic
Put up things like firewalls and spam filters that can prevent irrelevant traffic from clogging your channels. Malware could also affect your network’s performance as well, so you should have a reliable antivirus installed too.
- Check Device Configurations
If poorly configured devices are a cause of network difficulties, it makes sense for you to ascertain that their configurations are in order before they are in full use. This will reduce the incidence of network loops and slowdowns.
- Educate Your Staff
Encourage employees to adopt data saving practices. They can access documents from a single cloud platform, instead of sharing those documents and holding them in private storage. Let them know how connecting more devices to the network than you authorize can stifle network speed and ultimately cost your company. Train them to react appropriately to risks like malware and DDoS attacks that could slow your networks.
Conclusion
The quality of your network will play a part in determining your organization’s productivity. If you have continuous connectivity problems, it could negatively affect your work, your customer’s perception of your business, and your revenues in the long run.
It also helps to have a proper IT services provider take care of your network issues. That’s what you’ll get from us at Layer3. For over a decade, we have helped organizations in the public and private sector solve their IT problems. We continue to deliver network security, virtualization, and data center solutions to our clients across Nigeria, enabling them with technologies that drive them up the growth ladder.
Is your business struggling with network issues? We can help you fix them. Send us an email via enquiry@layer3.com.ng, or contact us here, and we’ll get back to you.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have teamed up to develop an initiative that will reduce the $350 million annual spending on diesel by telecom operators in Nigeria.
According to a press statement by Nnenna Ukoha, acting had of Public Affairs, NCC, this collaboration will focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to support telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To that end, the two agencies have inaugurated what they called NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, aimed at deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure across the country.
According to the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025 by the Africa Finance Corporation, telecom operators in Nigeria consume more than 40 million litres of diesel every month, costing them over $350 million annually.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC.
Maida was joined by Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, along with senior executives and committee members from both organisations.
Speaking at the event, Maida described the collaboration as a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities.
He noted that bridging the connectivity and power gaps in rural areas remains critical for Nigeria’s growth and development.
He highlighted that the demand for digital services and connected communities creates an opportunity for renewable energy to play a crucial role.
Maida further emphasised that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it is aimed at driving inclusion, reducing inequalities, and fostering shared prosperity.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people.
“This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities and creating the conditions for shared prosperity,” he was quoted in the statement.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy and digital transformation.
Aliyu, representing REA, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the collaboration.
“This partnership will unlock sustainable development opportunities for millions of Nigerians, especially those in areas lacking traditional infrastructure,” he said.
He further emphasised that the collaboration would address both energy and connectivity gaps, benefiting those who are currently underserved.
The newly established NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy to power telecom sites.
The statement noted that the committee will also focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, aligning funding frameworks, and tracking the socio-economic impact of the project through clear performance indicators.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced the execution of a national roaming agreement with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile), a move that signals a major milestone in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory authority, has approved the three-year deal, which allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, effective immediately, will significantly enhance connectivity and user experience for 9Mobile customers, particularly in areas where its network coverage is limited.
By leveraging MTN’s expansive infrastructure, 9Mobile can now offer improved service reach and reliability, without duplicating capital-intensive investments in network deployment.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, MTN Nigeria described the arrangement as a strategic collaboration that underscores its leadership in fostering innovation, industry cooperation, and operational efficiency.
The company emphasized that the initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader objective of promoting infrastructure sharing to improve telecommunications services nationwide.
“This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork.”The national roaming deal enables subscribers from 9Mobile to access voice and data services through MTN’s network in areas where the former lacks adequate coverage.
This marks the first such large-scale, cross-network roaming arrangement between two major operators in Nigeria, setting a precedent for future cooperative efforts in the telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria highlighted that the agreement contributes to more effective use of telecommunications resources, reduces infrastructure duplication, and accelerates the expansion of mobile broadband access across underserved regions.
It also supports both operators’ sustainability objectives by maximizing existing investments and reducing the environmental impact of deploying overlapping network facilities.
“This strategic collaboration is yet another first in the country by MTN Nigeria and marks a significant milestone for the sustainability of the telecommunications industry,” the company stated.
“By enabling national roaming, MTN Nigeria is contributing to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerating efforts to expand connectivity across the country.”
The agreement is expected to benefit not just subscribers and operators but also regulators and investors who have consistently advocated for policies that promote shared infrastructure and efficient capital utilization in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, MTN Nigeria, affirmed the company’s ongoing dedication to initiatives that create shared value.
“MTN remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders while promoting digital and financial inclusion nationwide,” she noted.
With the successful rollout of this agreement, the telecoms industry is expected to see improved service delivery and expanded access to quality mobile services, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The collaboration sets a benchmark for future inter-operator partnerships and reinforces the importance of regulatory support in advancing national connectivity goals.
Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has announced a temporary disruption in SIM-related services across all mobile networks in the country.
The disruption, according to a statement on Wednesday, follows a directive from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), mandating mobile network operators (MNOs) to migrate to a new identity verification platform.
ALTON said the transition had triggered unforeseen technical challenges, affecting services such as SIM registration, replacement, and mobile number portability.
“While the new platform is intended to enhance the integrity and efficiency of identity management in Nigeria, unfortunately, the transition has temporarily impacted service delivery,” the association stated.
It added that MNOs would not be able to support SIM swaps, new activations, and related services until the issues are resolved.
ALTON noted that its members are working closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIMC, and other stakeholders to restore normalcy.
The association appealed for public understanding and urged subscribers to delay visits to service centers for SIM-related matters.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and will continue to provide timely updates,” the statement read.
ALTON reaffirmed its commitment to delivering secure and quality telecommunications services to Nigerians.
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