In a move to strengthen Nigeria’s telecom industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a three-year national roaming agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile. This partnership allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam on MTN’s expansive network infrastructure nationwide, significantly improving access to mobile services in underserved areas.
MTN Nigeria confirmed the development in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange and the investing public, stating that the agreement would foster greater industry collaboration, improve operational efficiencies, and expand network coverage.
Under the new arrangement, 9Mobile users will benefit from MTN’s widespread network in areas where 9Mobile lacks adequate infrastructure. The partnership is seen as a lifeline for 9Mobile, which has struggled with a shrinking subscriber base due to prolonged service quality issues.
MTN CEO Karl Toriola highlighted the significance of the agreement, calling it a milestone in advancing the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria. He emphasized that such collaborations between private and public stakeholders are essential for building the scale needed to deliver reliable telecom services across the country.
“This agreement reflects what’s possible when the industry comes together. It demonstrates our commitment to improving customer experience and supporting sustainable industry growth,” Toriola stated.
As of March 2025, Nigeria recorded over 172 million mobile subscriptions, with MTN commanding more than half the market—over 90.4 million lines or 52.48%. In sharp contrast, 9Mobile holds just 2.8 million active lines, representing only 1.72% of the market.
The NCC has long promoted infrastructure sharing such as shared towers and fibre networks as a strategy to reduce costs and expand access to underserved regions. This agreement aligns with that goal and builds on a 2020 trial roaming service in Ondo State between the two operators, which tested the impact of network sharing on service quality.
Ultimately, the deal is expected to help 9Mobile stabilize its customer base, reduce operational costs, and improve user experience, while encouraging a more sustainable and inclusive telecom sector in Nigeria.
