MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has revealed plans to lease frequency spectrum from T2 Mobile Limited (formerly 9Mobile) beginning October 1, 2025. This arrangement involves 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz band and 15MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band for three years.
According to a statement by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, the spectrum lease is integral to the national roaming agreement between MTN and T2 Mobile. This collaboration allows MTN to manage additional network traffic from T2’s subscribers by utilizing MTN’s infrastructure where T2’s coverage is limited.
MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola emphasized the move as part of MTN’s goal 2025 plan to boost network capacity sustainably. He stressed how such endeavors support Nigeria’s broader digital transformation and expanded broadband access.
Meanwhile, MTN confirmed it will not renew its current one-year spectrum lease with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel), which covers 5MHz in the 900MHz band and 10MHz in the 1800MHz band across 17 states, expiring on November 29, 2025. Instead, MTN is focusing on newer arrangements that strengthen collaboration and infrastructure investment.
T2 Mobile has benefited from this cooperation, recording its first subscriber growth in July 2025 with over 290,000 new users, ending a year-long decline. Despite this rise, 9Mobile holds the fourth largest market share at 1.61%, far behind MTN’s dominant 52.7%. Overall, Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions fell slightly in July, alongside a marginal drop in teledensity based on NCC data.
