After years of regulatory hurdles, 9mobile is on the cusp of a significant breakthrough. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has finally given the green light for 9mobile to launch national roaming services using MTN Nigeria’s infrastructure in June 2025. This news comes as a beacon of hope for the struggling telecom operator, which has seen its market share dwindle to a mere 1.72% in April 2025, sharply down from 6.6% back in 2020 when it initially sought this crucial approval.
“This move is a critical lifeline for the struggling operator.”
The journey towards national roaming began in August 2020 when both MTN and 9mobile were granted a three-month trial by the NCC to test their roaming capabilities. While the pilot phase concluded in October that same year, bureaucratic delays thwarted full commercial implementation—until now. This recent approval signifies a pivotal moment for 9mobile, allowing them to expand their coverage into regions where their network infrastructure is lacking, thus significantly boosting service reliability for existing users.
“The partnership between 9mobile and MTN offers strategic benefits.”
At the heart of this development lies an essential agreement inked between 9mobile and MTN back in August 2020. This pact enables users of both networks to make calls, send messages, and access mobile data seamlessly by tapping into MTN’s extensive infrastructure where there are gaps in coverage provided by 9mobile.
“Identity still matters—many users are tied to their numbers.”
For analysts closely monitoring the telecom landscape, this collaboration opens up exciting possibilities for both firms involved. With Glo’s market share plummeting to an unprecedented low of just under twelve percent in April 2025—a stark drop from its previous standing—the race is on for operators vying for third place behind heavyweights like MTN and Airtel.
Moreover, this mutually beneficial arrangement isn’t just about plugging coverage gaps; it also represents a strategic win for MTN as they gain access to underutilized spectrum assets owned by 9mobile across various frequency bands like the crucial spectrums at 900 MHz,1800 MHz, and2100 MHz—which are vital for enhancing data capacity and expanding coverage particularly in congested urban areas.
“It’s all about how well they can package and market their services.”
However promising this partnership may seem on paper, industry insiders advise caution regarding regulatory oversight over spectrum usage post-agreement implementation. It is widely expected that stringent restrictions might be imposed by the NCC to ensure fair play among operators while preventing any distortions within the market dynamics—a move aimed at safeguarding consumers’ interests.
As reported by techcabal.com , beyond being a business deal between two telcos seeking mutual growth opportunities through collaboration rather than competition—it symbolizes NCC’s broader vision—to encourage infrastructural sharing among operators—fostering efficiency while curbing unnecessary duplication expenses incurred during network deployments—an approach deemed essential amid escalating operational costs within Nigeria’s telecom sector.
In conclusion,
the impending rollout of national roaming services spearheaded by 9mobile leveraging MTN‘s robust network infrastructure heralds not only improved connectivity prospects but also serves as an insightful case study illustrating how strategic partnerships can redefine industry landscapes—ushering in new eras of innovation while addressing pressing consumer needs with agility.
Attribution:
This article was based on information reported by “https://techcabal.com/2025/05/28/9mobile-gets-ncc-approval-to-launch-national-roaming-on-mtn/”
>techcabal.com.
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