Subscribers of Emerging Market Communications Company, trading as 9mobile in Nigeria, are expected to start enjoying improved service quality across the country as the national roaming agreement approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the telco and MTN Nigeria takes effect next week, it was gathered yesterday.
The partnership will enable the two telcos to share radio infrastructure to facilitate efficient service delivery to their customers.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Lagos, they said they went into the partnership to boost their networks and give their customers high quality service and pledged their commitment towards the agreement.
9mobile services are expected to be accessed again everywhere in the country where MTN network services are available.
By the arrangements, 9mobile hopes to regain its over 22 million lost subscribers in the country. As of January 2025, the company’s active subscriber base had plunged to 3.2 million, according to data from the NCC, a steep fall from over 22 million at its peak in 2016.
9mobile Chief Executive Officer, Obafemi Banigbe, said the partnership journey will be backed by MTN, adding that the initial term of the agreement is for three-years, which will enable 9mobile subscribers to be able to use MTN’s radio access coverage across the country.
Bamigbe said by the agreement, 9mobile would be able to deploy its network in a areas where its coverage does not reach leveraging on MTN infrastructure in those areas.
The 9mobile CEO said MTN would also leverage on 9mobile infrastructure to serve its customers where its infrastructure doesn’t cover.
“It is a commercial partnership. It is a win-win for both parties. It is not a freeloader, both of us are paying for services we render for each other,” he said.
He also said the operators were in it for a long run and it’s expected to improve telecommunications in the country.
“Remember, sometimes at the beginning of last year, we had the press briefing where we explained exactly what we’re doing in order for us to get 9mobile back into a competitive space in the market. And then we discussed the opportunities that we have. And then we mentioned to you guys that our mantra is to build our network where we must and then share infrastructure where we can,” he said.
According to Banigbe, part of the restructuring is what “we are doing today, the roaming arrangements has started.”
Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said while the roaming service has started in Lagos and test runs in other states, total coverage is expected to be achieved by the end of July. He added that the partnership is the first of its kind in the country and entire West and, East and Central Africa (WECA) region.
Represented by the telco’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Linda Saint Nwafor, the CEO clarified that the partnership was not a porting arrangement as both parties would still retain their customers on their networks.
He said it also marks a major shift in the competitive dynamics of the country’s telecoms sector, where infrastructure sharing has long been discussed but rarely implemented at this scale.
“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.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork,” Dr Toriola said.
He expressed delight in taking the lead in collaboration in the industry.
He said: “We are very happy, as MTN, to take the lead in fostering industry collaboration, and this aligns with the objectives of the NCC, which is to deepen digital acceleration and to ensure industry sustainability.
“We are therefore very grateful to our NCC EVC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the entire leadership of the NCC for their support in pushing through this partnership. We are also very grateful to our minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who is the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, for championing the drive for cost-efficient industry partnership and collaboration.”
