How a new roaming deal could help struggling Nigerian telco 9mobile make a comeback
For 9mobile, this is a make-or-break moment.
It’s no secret that 9mobile has had a rough ride in Nigeria’s telecom space.
Once a strong contender in the market, formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria with over 23 million subscribers and 15.7% market share in 2015, the operator has now dwindled to just 3.2 million subscribers and a mere 1.72% share as of April 2025.
That’s a steep fall from grace, mostly blamed on shaky infrastructure, poor service delivery, and years of stalled recovery efforts.
One of those recovery efforts started way back in 2020, when 9mobile entered a roaming pilot with MTN Nigeria, the largest telecom operator in the country, now boasting over 84 million users and controlling around 38% of the market. The idea was simple. 9mobile would let its subscribers roam on MTN’s robust infrastructure, ensuring wider coverage and better connectivity, while MTN would gain access to 9mobile’s underused spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
But what was supposed to be a short test turned into a five-year waiting game, bogged down by regulatory bottlenecks, shifting market conditions, and unclear execution timelines. That finally changed in May 2025 when the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave the long-awaited green light for a commercial rollout, set to begin in June 2025.
For 9mobile, this is a make-or-break moment. The national roaming deal could instantly turn dead zones into 4G zones for its users, without the cost of building out new towers. It’s a lifeline, especially now that rivals like Globacom are also losing ground; its share fell to 11.9%, with subscribers down to 20.6 million. If 9mobile plays its cards right, the race for third place might not be over just yet.
MTN, meanwhile, isn’t exactly running a charity. Despite its dominance, it’s also feeling the pinch. The telco reported a ₦400 billion ($250 million) post-tax loss in Nigeria last year and recently joined others in pushing for a 50% hike in call and data prices to stay afloat. With regulators demanding improved infrastructure in return, tapping into 9mobile’s spectrum is a smart way to ease network congestion and stretch its reach.
It’s a mutually beneficial move, no doubt. But for 9mobile, the question remains—after all this time, can it really make a comeback?
Kelechi Edeh
