The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has 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 and roam on MTN Nigeria’s nationwide network infrastructure, significantly boosting coverage and service quality for 9Mobile customers.
In a disclosure to the Nigerian Exchange and the investing public, MTN Nigeria confirmed that the agreement will enable 9Mobile users to enjoy seamless connectivity in areas where 9Mobile lacks sufficient infrastructure.
“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 better mobile services to its customers,” the statement read.
Fostering Collaboration and Efficiency
MTN noted that the agreement promotes stronger industry collaboration, boosts operational efficiency, and optimizes the use of existing infrastructure. It also aligns with the broader goals of enhancing nationwide connectivity and ensuring the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecom sector.
MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola expressed confidence in the deal, saying it marks a significant step toward supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria.
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“This agreement represents a major milestone in our commitment to industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and delivering the scale required for Nigeria’s telecom sector. It shows the power of partnership between the private sector, government, and investors,” he said.
Market Context
Nairametrics in a statement said, Nigeria had over 172 million mobile subscribers as of March 2025. MTN accounted for 90.4 million active lines, representing 52.48% of the market. In contrast, 9Mobile had only 2.8 million subscribers, making up just 1.72% of the total, and has struggled with declining user numbers due to service quality issues.
Unlike other major operators, 9Mobile did not record growth between February and March 2025. Analysts attributed the static figures to a temporary inability of customers to port out during that period.
The NCC has long encouraged infrastructure-sharing among telecom operators, including shared towers and fibre networks, as a means of reducing capital and operational costs while expanding mobile access.
This latest agreement builds on a 2020 pilot roaming trial between MTN and 9Mobile in Ondo State, which was aimed at evaluating the impact of shared infrastructure on service delivery. The success of that trial paved the way for this broader, nationwide collaboration.
NAIRAMETRICS
