By JKNewsMedia
NTIONWIDE MOBILE access is set for a major boost as a transformative national roaming agreement allows 9Mobile subscribers to connect seamlessly through MTN Nigeria’s vast network partnerships.
Approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the three-year partnership marks a strategic breakthrough in telecom collaboration, extending coverage and enhancing service quality for millions of users.
The deal, aimed at bridging network gaps, represents a shift from competition to cooperation in the sector.
By leveraging MTN’s established infrastructure, 9mobile will now serve customers in more locations with improved reliability, especially in underserved areas.
The rollout, already underway, is set to expand progressively across key cities in the coming weeks.
Underpinning the partnership is a proposed spectrum leasing arrangement through which 9mobile will lease its 900MHz (5MHz) and 1800MHz (15MHz) frequency bands to MTN for three years, according to the companies.
The statement issued notes that the move is expected to strengthen MTN’s service quality and capacity, while offering 9mobile new pathways for reinvestment and growth.
Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of 9Mobile, described the initiative as a bold step toward network sustainability, noting that the focus is shifting from infrastructure ownership to strategic access.
He emphasised that sharing infrastructure, which constitutes up to 75% of operational costs, allows operators to redirect investment into innovation and user experience.
Acknowledging the regulators’ support, Banigbe also commended the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, and Communications Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani for fostering policies that promote resource-efficient, consumer-focused growth.
He stressed that collaboration over duplication is the future of telecoms, aligning with 9mobile’s commitment to delivering quality service where needed, and sharing infrastructure where possible.
MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr. Karl Toriola, hailed the deal as a sector-defining milestone.
He reaffirmed MTN’s dedication to innovation, national inclusion, and consumer satisfaction.
Toriola credited Dr. Tijani’s leadership in enabling meaningful cooperation across the industry, driving progress towards a digitally inclusive Nigeria.
He said this partnership is to set a national precedent for how operators can jointly tackle longstanding challenges, reduce inefficiencies, and deliver faster access to advanced technologies.
Toriola further said it reflects a broader realignment within Nigeria’s telecom sector as one that prioritises shared growth, customer value, and resilient infrastructure over siloed development.
