Telecom operators, 9mobile and MTN, have announced that their National Roaming deal, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), will go live across the country before the end of July.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference in Lagos on Thursday, July 3, 2025, with 9mobile’s Chief Executive Officer, Obafemi Banigbe, confirming that tests are already ongoing in select regions.
“We are currently testing the service in some regions just to make sure that we are working correctly without any interruption. We expect that all our tests will be completed over the weekend,” Banigbe said.
“So, we expect that within the month of July, we will be able to have a rollout across the country based on the outcome of the tests that we have done,” he added.
How 9mobile Customers Will Benefit
For customers of 9mobile, once the roaming deal is fully rolled out, subscribers will be able to make calls, send text messages, and use mobile data through MTN’s network in areas where 9mobile’s coverage is weak or non-existent.
From a business perspective, the partnership allows 9mobile to expand its reach without heavy capital expenditure, a strategic lifeline for the operator, which has been under pressure from competition and funding constraints.
Rather than investing in new infrastructure, 9mobile will now be able to tap into MTN’s extensive network, which covers virtually all of Nigeria.
Redefining Collaboration in the Industry
Beyond the operational benefits, the deal also marks a shift in how telecom operators approach competition.
According to Banigbe, the partnership was a first in Nigeria and across West, Central, and East Africa, and would redefine connectivity for millions.
“It is not a merger or coalition, but a commercial partnership focused on operational efficiency,” Banigbe said.
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, who represented CEO Karl Toriola, echoed this sentiment, describing the deal as a blend of cooperation and competition.
“This is pioneering. We are proud to move from pure rivalry to cooperation in efficiency, while still competing in service and innovation,” she stated.
What to Expect from the Rollout
The national rollout will begin later this month, following the completion of live tests that are already being conducted in parts of Nigeria.
Although the companies have not disclosed the specific regions where testing is underway, industry analysts expect priority areas to include rural and semi-urban locations, where 9mobile’s signal is weakest and MTN’s infrastructure is most dominant.
The three-year agreement allows for roaming access to MTN’s infrastructure across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
With the NCC’s full backing, there are expectations that more such partnerships may follow, particularly among smaller telecom operators looking to scale service without incurring massive costs.
How Nigerians Will Benefit: A Case Study in Digital Inclusion
For millions of Nigerians, particularly those living in rural and underserved regions, the 9mobile–MTN National Roaming deal promises to bridge connectivity gaps that have limited access to digital services.
Take Fatima Musa, from a remote village in Bauchi State, who has long experienced a weak signal. With the new agreement, she may be able to connect to MTN’s infrastructure without changing her number.
Beyond individual users, the benefits extend to entrepreneurs, students, farmers, and healthcare workers who depend on uninterrupted mobile access for productivity and livelihood.
The ability of 9mobile users to now roam freely on MTN’s network will reduce service blackouts, improve data access, and ensure more Nigerians, regardless of their location, can participate in the country’s growing digital economy.
Talking Points
The national roaming rollout between 9mobile and MTN is a long-overdue breakthrough for Nigeria’s telecom landscape, especially for subscribers in areas that have been left behind.
By allowing 9mobile customers to tap into MTN’s wider coverage without changing their SIM cards, the deal directly addresses one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria’s digital push.
At Techparley, we recognise how collaborations like this can reduce infrastructure duplication and accelerate equitable access to digital services across the country.
The partnership goes beyond corporate synergy; it represents a smarter model for telecom growth, expanding reach without raising capital-intensive barriers that typically exclude smaller operators.
Still, successful adoption will depend on how seamless the handover experience is for users, and how well both telcos communicate the benefits to customers on the ground.
As the service rolls out nationwide, we see room for government agencies, civil society, and private sector players to support broader awareness, so that more Nigerians, like rural teachers, health workers, and market traders can fully benefit.
With sustained execution, this deal could serve as a model for infrastructure sharing in West Africa, pushing Nigeria closer to universal connectivity and real digital inclusion.
