In a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially approved a three-year national roaming agreement between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile). The deal allows 9Mobile subscribers to access MTN’s nationwide network infrastructure in areas where 9Mobile’s coverage is limited or unavailable.
Seamless Connectivity for 9Mobile Users
The agreement, which was disclosed in a corporate filing to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the investing public, grants 9Mobile customers the ability to roam on MTN’s robust and widespread network across Nigeria. This arrangement marks a significant turning point for 9Mobile, which has struggled with poor infrastructure and declining market share over the years.
In its official statement, MTN Nigeria explained:
“The agreement allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s network, fostering industry collaboration and enhancing operational efficiencies. By leveraging our extensive coverage, 9Mobile can provide mobile communication services to its customers.”
This partnership is expected to enhance network access, reduce service disruptions, and improve user experience for 9Mobile subscribers—especially in rural and underserved regions.
Enhancing Industry Collaboration and Operational Efficiency
According to MTN Nigeria, this collaboration is more than just a commercial deal; it is part of a broader effort to promote shared infrastructure usage, drive cost efficiencies, and foster greater sustainability in Nigeria’s telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in driving nationwide digital inclusion. He noted:
“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.”
He added that the deal is the culmination of months of planning and aligns with national goals to extend digital services to all Nigerians, regardless of location.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria demands strong collaboration between the private sector, public institutions, and long-term investors. This agreement shows what is possible when we work together.”
Market Context and Performance Overview
In stark contrast, 9Mobile holds just 2.8 million active subscriptions, representing a mere 1.72% market share. Years of service quality issues and operational challenges have led to a sharp decline in 9Mobile’s subscriber base.
While other operators like Airtel and Glo reported gains in subscriber numbers between February and March 2025, 9Mobile’s figures remained stagnant. Analysts attributed this stagnation in part to user difficulty in porting out of the network during the period.
This national roaming agreement now provides 9Mobile with a critical lifeline to improve service delivery and possibly regain customer confidence.
NCC’s Push for Infrastructure Sharing
The NCC has consistently championed infrastructure sharing as a core strategy to cut costs, reduce redundancy, and improve nationwide network coverage. The regulator has urged telecom operators to collaborate in areas such as tower sharing, fibre deployment, and roaming arrangements to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and enhance service availability in hard-to-reach regions.
This policy stance led to the first roaming trial between MTN and 9Mobile in Ondo State in 2020. The pilot initiative was designed to assess the impact of roaming on service quality and set the groundwork for broader nationwide implementation.
The success of that pilot appears to have laid the foundation for this newly formalized three-year agreement.
Why This Agreement Matters
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Improved Access and Quality for 9Mobile Users: With MTN’s extensive infrastructure, 9Mobile subscribers can expect better connectivity in previously underserved areas.
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Optimized Industry Resources: By leveraging MTN’s network, both companies avoid duplicating infrastructure costs, making operations more cost-effective.
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Stronger Regulatory Backing: NCC’s approval signals its commitment to a more collaborative telecom sector where smaller players can survive and thrive.
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Potential Market Revival for 9Mobile: If implemented effectively, this agreement could help 9Mobile stem customer attrition and reposition itself in the market.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
With this agreement now in force, 9Mobile will begin integrating MTN’s infrastructure into its service framework. Subscribers should soon start experiencing better signal strength, fewer call drops, and improved data connectivity, especially in rural and low-network zones.
The success of this collaboration could also inspire more inter-operator partnerships in the future, particularly among smaller telecom players seeking to survive in Nigeria’s fiercely competitive mobile market.
Furthermore, this development reinforces the importance of regulatory innovation in supporting market competitiveness and technological advancement.
As telecom penetration deepens, and digital transformation accelerates across sectors, such infrastructure-sharing agreements may become central to sustaining Nigeria’s ICT growth. It also marks a key milestone in the NCC’s broader agenda to achieve universal digital access across the nation.
Conclusion
The approval of this roaming deal between MTN and 9Mobile signals a promising shift in Nigeria’s telecom strategy—one rooted in collaboration over competition, efficiency over duplication, and inclusion over isolation. If successfully implemented, it will not only revitalize 9Mobile’s presence but also ensure that millions of Nigerians enjoy reliable mobile services, regardless of their geographic location.
