Nigeria's 9mobile to Launch National Roaming on MTN Network in June

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYMay 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM UTC

TLDR

9mobile will launch national roaming services on MTN Nigeria’s network in June 2025, following regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission
The deal allows 9mobile users to access MTN’s infrastructure for calls, texts, and data in areas where 9mobile’s coverage is weak or absent
With MTN’s support, the company seeks to reverse its decline without the high cost of expanding its own infrastructure

9mobile will launch national roaming services on MTN Nigeria’s network in June 2025, following regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), according to people familiar with the matter cited by TechCabal.

The deal allows 9mobile users to access MTN’s infrastructure for calls, texts, and data in areas where 9mobile’s coverage is weak or absent. The agreement is based on a spectrum and roaming deal signed in August 2020. A three-month pilot began that year, but the commercial rollout faced regulatory delays until now.

9mobile’s market share has dropped to 1.72% as of April 2025, from 6.6% in 2020. With MTN’s support, the company seeks to reverse its decline without the high cost of expanding its own infrastructure. In return, MTN will gain access to 9mobile’s underused spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands—valuable assets for improving coverage and reducing congestion.

The NCC did not comment on the deal. MTN and 9mobile also declined to respond. The move comes as Globacom’s share drops to 11.9%, raising competition for the number three spot in Nigeria’s telecom market. Industry watchers say execution will be key to 9mobile’s chances of recovery.

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Key Takeaways

The 9mobile-MTN deal marks a shift in Nigeria’s telecom strategy. The NCC has long encouraged infrastructure sharing to cut network duplication and improve service quality. For smaller players like 9mobile, roaming agreements offer a path to survival in a market where capital costs and subscriber churn are high. MTN, which serves over 84 million subscribers, will benefit from access to low-band and mid-band spectrum that is vital for rural coverage and urban network quality. The 900 MHz band is suitable for wide-area and indoor coverage, while the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands enhance capacity in crowded areas. Nigeria’s telecom market remains highly concentrated, with Airtel and MTN dominating. By enabling smaller operators to roam nationally, the NCC hopes to inject more competition and extend connectivity to underserved areas. Analysts caution that the long-term success of such deals depends on pricing, user retention, and regulatory clarity around spectrum use and revenue sharing.

Business

MTN

9mobile

Telecom

Nigeria

NCC

Roaming