Telecom operator 9mobile, which recently
rebranded as T2, recorded its first subscriber growth in nearly a year
in July 2025, adding 290,601 new users. The rebound was largely
driven by its newly signed national roaming agreement with MTN,
Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator.
The gain marks a rare turnaround for 9mobile, which
has struggled for years with a steady decline in customer base due to weak
network coverage and limited investment in infrastructure.
Market Performance in July
According to the latest data from the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC), 9mobile stood out as the only operator
among the country’s four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to post subscriber
gains in July.
Overall, Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions
dropped to 169.1 million in July, down from 171.5 million in June. The
decline was largely fueled by Airtel’s steep losses. Consequently, the
country’s teledensity also fell to 78.11% in July from 79.22%
in June, based on a population estimate of 216 million.
The Game-Changing MTN Deal
On July 3, 2025, 9mobile and MTN officially
launched their national roaming agreement, approved by the NCC. The deal
allows 9mobile subscribers to seamlessly access MTN’s network infrastructure
nationwide, ensuring they can make calls, send SMS, and browse the internet in
areas where 9mobile’s coverage is poor or nonexistent.
Instead of investing heavily in new infrastructure,
9mobile now leverages MTN’s extensive network, cutting costs while improving
service quality for its users.
Industry analysts see the partnership as a survival
strategy for 9mobile and a win for digital inclusion, as it expands
connectivity to previously underserved areas.
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