AdminCEO of 9Mobile, Obafemi Banigbe, has said the national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria marks a bold resurgence for the telecom company.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9mobile) signed a three-year national roaming agreement, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe deal enables 9mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s expansive network, significantly extending 9mobile’s coverage and improving service quality for its customers. The partnership signals a shift toward greater industry collaboration, aligning with the NCC’s vision for a more inclusive and efficient digital ecosystem.
“This partnership marks a bold resurgence for 9Mobile,” said Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of 9Mobile.
“It empowers us to meet the needs of our customers, especially youthful and enterprise users, by delivering consistent, high-quality service as we roll out city by city in the weeks ahead.”
Banigbe commended NCC under the leadership of Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman, for enabling such progressive industry collaboration, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, for his advocacy of a resource-efficient, consumer-first telecom ecosystem.
READ ALSO: 9mobile Debunks Shutdown Rumours, Reassures Customers Of Improved Service
“In today’s telecom environment, access is more strategic than ownership,” Banigbe added. “Access to infrastructure is now more important than ownership,” Banigbe added.
“Rather than duplicating networks, we’re investing in access that is commercially viable and sustainable. Network infrastructure typically accounts for 70–75% of an operator’s costs, savings here mean we can reinvest in innovation and customer experience. At 9mobile, our mantra is simple: build infrastructure where necessary, share it where possible,” he concluded.”
READ ALSO: Relief For 9mobile Customers As NCC Approves 3-year Roaming Agreement With MTN
The agreement promotes improved user experience, stronger connectivity, and increased operational efficiency in addition to infrastructure sharing.
Additionally, it opens the door for greater cooperation between the two telecom companies, particularly a proposed spectrum leasing agreement whereby 9mobile will lease its 1800MHz (15MHz) and 900MHz (5MHz) bands to MTN for a period of three years, enhancing MTN’s service quality and network capacity.
Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, described the agreement as a milestone for the sector, “This collaboration underscores our commitment to industry innovation, customer-centricity, and support for the NCC’s goal of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Toriola. “It reflects our shared value philosophy, prioritizing partnerships that benefit the entire ecosystem.”
Toriola also praised Dr. Tijani’s efforts in promoting meaningful collaboration as a key driver of digital access, service quality, and nationwide inclusion.
This pioneering agreement sets a new benchmark for infrastructure sharing in Nigeria. It exemplifies how competitors can collaborate to address systemic challenges, reduce redundancies, and collectively transform the industry—ultimately delivering broader coverage, better service, and faster access to emerging technologies for Nigerian consumers.
