In a landmark move set to redefine Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9mobile) have formally announced a groundbreaking national infrastructure partnership, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The centerpiece of the agreement is a three-year national roaming deal, allowing 9mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network. This move significantly expands 9mobile’s coverage footprint, enhances service reliability, and improves user experience—especially in underserved areas.
The partnership reflects a strategic shift toward deeper industry collaboration and supports the NCC’s vision for a more inclusive, interoperable, and resource-efficient digital ecosystem.
Beyond national roaming, the agreement also includes a proposed spectrum leasing arrangement. Under this deal, 9mobile will lease its 900MHz (5MHz) and 1800MHz (15MHz) spectrum bands to MTN for three years, further boosting MTN’s network capacity, service quality, and reach.
“This partnership marks a bold resurgence for 9mobile,” said Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of 9mobile. “It empowers us to better serve our customers—especially digital-savvy youths and enterprise users—by delivering consistent, high-quality service across Nigeria as we roll out city by city.”
Banigbe lauded the forward-thinking leadership of Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, for enabling such progressive collaboration.
“In today’s telecom environment, access is more strategic than ownership,” Banigbe added. “Rather than duplicating networks, we’re investing in access that’s commercially viable and sustainable. With infrastructure costs accounting for up to 75% of operating expenses, savings through sharing allow us to reinvest in innovation and customer satisfaction. At 9mobile, our mantra is clear: build where necessary, share where possible.”
MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr. Karl Toriola, described the agreement as a milestone for the telecom sector. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to industry innovation, customer-centricity, and the NCC’s ambition for a fully connected Nigeria,” he stated. “It reflects our shared-value approach, where partnerships drive inclusive growth and industry resilience.”
Toriola also praised Minister Tijani’s role in fostering meaningful collaboration as a catalyst for digital access, service quality, and national inclusion.
This pioneering agreement sets a new benchmark for telecom infrastructure sharing in Nigeria. It demonstrates how competitors can collaborate to address systemic challenges, eliminate redundancies, and reshape the digital future—delivering broader coverage, improved service, and accelerated access to emerging technologies for millions of Nigerians.