9mobile has received official approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to commence national roaming services using MTN Nigeria’s infrastructure starting June 2025. This development comes after nearly five years of regulatory delays and is poised to significantly enhance 9mobile’s network coverage and service reliability across Nigeria.
The national roaming initiative allows 9mobile subscribers to access MTN’s expansive network in areas where 9mobile’s own infrastructure is limited or absent. This means users will be able to make calls, send SMS, and use mobile data seamlessly by connecting to MTN’s network, thereby addressing the chronic service disruptions that have contributed to 9mobile’s decline in market share – from 6.6% in 2020 to just 1.72% in April 2025.
The agreement between 9mobile and MTN, originally established in August 2020, includes spectrum sharing in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands. This spectrum access is expected to benefit MTN by improving its network capacity and reducing congestion, especially in urban areas, while helping 9mobile avoid the high costs of building out nationwide infrastructure.
Industry experts see this as a strategic move that could help 9mobile regain competitive ground in Nigeria’s telecom market, particularly as rival operator Globacom experiences subscriber losses. “The number three spot is still very much in play,” noted a telecom executive, emphasizing that 9mobile’s success will depend on how well it markets its enhanced services.
The NCC’s endorsement of this national roaming deal aligns with its broader policy to encourage infrastructure sharing and optimize spectrum use to reduce operational costs and improve service quality across the sector. National roaming is increasingly recognized as a practical solution to expand network reach and improve connectivity in underserved areas without duplicating expensive infrastructure.
As 9mobile prepares for the rollout, the telecom industry will be closely watching to see if this partnership can deliver better network experiences for millions of Nigerian users and potentially serve as a model for future collaborations among operators.
Neither MTN nor 9mobile has publicly commented on the launch as of now, and the NCC has not issued a statement beyond the approval notice.
