03 June 2025
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted regulatory approval for 9mobile to initiate national roaming services on MTN’s network, set to commence this month.
This approval marks a significant milestone after nearly five years of discussions, providing a much-needed boost for 9mobile, whose market share has sharply declined to 1.72% as of April 2025 — down from 6.6% in 2020 when the proposal was originally submitted.
Under the terms of the agreement, 9mobile subscribers will be able to access MTN’s infrastructure for voice calls, text messaging, and data services in areas where 9mobile’s coverage is limited or unavailable. This arrangement offers a strategic opportunity for 9mobile to expand its reach without the substantial costs associated with building new infrastructure nationwide, giving it a chance to recover lost subscribers and strengthen its position in Nigeria’s competitive telecom landscape.
For MTN, the deal provides an opportunity to optimize its network utilization by gaining rights to access 9mobile’s underused spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands—key spectrum assets that can be leveraged to extend coverage and enhance data capacity. With over 84 million subscribers, MTN stands to benefit from improved network performance, potentially reducing congestion and elevating service quality.
While the NCC has yet to publicly comment on the specific details of the agreement or any regulatory constraints, the approval aligns with the regulator’s broader strategy to promote infrastructure sharing and spectrum efficiency across Nigeria’s telecom sector. The initiative aims to reduce operational costs and foster a more sustainable, competitive environment.
If the rollout proceeds smoothly, this partnership could serve as a model for smaller operators facing stiff competition from industry giants like MTN and Airtel, demonstrating the benefits of strategic infrastructure sharing in Nigeria’s telecom industry.
