• What’s happening? 9mobile has entered into a three‑year national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, officially approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

• Why now? The deal follows regulatory approval in late May/early June 2025, after years of delays and pilot tests since 2020.

2. What It Means for 9mobile Users

• Seamless coverage: Subscribers can now access MTN’s extensive radio network in areas where 9mobile has limited or no presence.

• No hassle re-registration: Simply switch on your device; as long as your SIM is active and NIN-linked, service continues uninterrupted. For inactive lines (beyond 90 days), a recharge restores access.

3. Why It Matters

• Improved reliability: 9mobile’s subscriber base tumbled from over 22 million in 2016 to just 2–3 million by early 2025, largely due to network outages and weak signals.

• Strategic pivot: With limited funds under new owners (Lighthouse Capital), 9mobile avoids expensive infrastructure expansion by sharing MTN’s existing towers.

• Industry-first in region: Described as “pioneering” West, Central, and East Africa ― the deal marks the first large-scale infrastructure-sharing between competitors.

4. Rollout Timeline

• Testing phase: Coverage tests began in early July 2025; full nationwide launch expected by end of July 2025.

• Launch dates:

  • June 2025: NCC issued approval.

  • July 2–4, 2025: Formal announcement and testing kickoff.

  • End of July 2025: Full implementation scheduled.

5. Comments from Leadership

• 9mobile CEO Obafemi Banigbe emphasized that this is a “commercial partnership” (not a merger), aiming to boost efficiency and coverage where needed.

• MTN’s Lynda Saint-Nwafor highlighted the “co‑opetition” model—collaborating on infrastructure while competing on service.

• MTN CEO Karl Toriola said the agreement aligns with NCC’s goal for a fully connected Nigeria and showcases private–public synergy.

Why It’s a Big Deal

Final Take

• For 9mobile users: Expect dramatically improved coverage—just turn on your phone, recharge if needed, and enjoy expanded access.

• For the telecom sector: This signals a shift towards collaborative network solutions, potentially inspiring similar partnerships.

• For Nigeria’s digital future: Better connectivity in rural and underserved areas supports economic inclusion and digital equity.

What to Watch Next

• July 2025: Full rollout—monitor performance and service quality.

• Subscriber impact: Will this halt 9mobile’s slide and win back users?

• Industry reaction: Will Airtel, Glo, and others follow suit?

Overall, the 9mobile‑MTN roaming deal represents a smart, strategic pivot for both companies—and a meaningful win for Nigerian subscribers who’ve long suffered from unreliable service.

The post 9mobile Roaming on MTN: What You Need to Know appeared first on Shoplife Nigeria.

During its quarterly update call, CEO Ralph Mupita told journalists that the telecoms is engaged in discussions about the potential “orderly exit” of its operations in Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. 

While the telecom has yet to reveal why it’s leaving these African markets, its financial reports show that it’s facing numerous challenges across the West and Central Africa region. Mupita pointed to signs of inflation and currency devaluation across several markets. 

Small markets, small shares: Per Bloomberg, these three countries also aren’t heavy hitters for the telecoms, contributing a scant 1.6% to MTN’s revenue in 2022. Across these countries, the telecom controls a secondary chunk of the market share, about 30% in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry, beaten out by Orange Mobile which controls over 60% of the market share in both countries. In Liberia, Lonestar MTN is the second-largest telecom in the country, with Orange Liberia controlling over 50% of the Liberian telecoms market. 

It’s also not the first time the telecom has hinted at exiting these countries. In May 2023, it was reportedly in talks with Axian Group Limited to sell its assets in these countries. 

Exiting Afghanistan: The telecom is also nearing a close for its exit from the Middle East. 

In 2020, MTN announced its plan to exit the Middle East, focusing on Africa to simplify its structure and reduce risk exposure. This decision was driven by increased complexity due to US sanctions on Iran and growing troubles in Afghanistan. Later, MTN sold its Yemen business and stopped operations in Syria and Afghanistan. In August 2022, the company received a $35 million offer for its Afghanistan business and recently confirmed the sale to M1 New Ventures.

The group, yesterday, announced that its Afghanistan exit will be complete within two months. 

As Seen on Tech Cabal

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