In a landmark development poised to significantly enhance telecommunications services across Nigeria, MTN Nigeria and 9mobile have announced a strategic three-year national roaming agreement. This partnership, which takes effect next week and is expected to roll out nationwide in July, will allow 9mobile subscribers to seamlessly access MTN’s extensive network infrastructure, particularly in areas where 9mobile’s coverage is limited.

The groundbreaking collaboration, formally announced by both companies in Lagos on Thursday, July 3, 2025, and confirmed in regulatory filings, has received the crucial approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). It marks a significant shift towards greater industry cooperation in Nigeria’s competitive telecom landscape.

Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile, described the agreement as a “bold resurgence” for his company, which has seen its subscriber base dwindle in recent years due to network challenges. “This partnership marks a bold resurgence for 9mobile. It empowers us to meet the needs of our customers, especially youthful and enterprise users, by delivering consistent, high-quality service as we roll out city by city in the weeks ahead,” Banigbe stated. He clarified that the arrangement is a purely commercial partnership aimed at operational efficiency, not a merger or acquisition. “It is not a freeloader, both of us are paying for services we render for each other,” he added.

For MTN, Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator, the agreement underscores its commitment to fostering industry collaboration and optimizing network utilization. Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, represented by Lynda Saint-Nwafor, the telco’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, lauded the partnership as the first of its kind in Nigeria and across West, East, and Central Africa.

“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,” Toriola said. He emphasized that delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria demands strong cooperation among the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors.

The national roaming deal is expected to deliver multiple benefits. For 9mobile customers, it promises significantly improved coverage and service quality, particularly in underserved regions, without requiring them to port their numbers or take any additional action beyond ensuring their phones are active. For both operators, it represents an opportunity to enhance operational efficiency, reduce the costly duplication of infrastructure, and ensure judicious capital deployment, thereby attracting further foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s technology sector.

The NCC has long advocated for infrastructure sharing as a means to reduce costs, expand access, and accelerate connectivity, especially in rural areas. This partnership aligns perfectly with that regulatory vision, setting a new benchmark for inter-operator collaboration in the country.