The Federal Government of Nigeria has firmly backed 9mobile’s rebranding to T2, calling it a significant improvement for Nigeria’s telecom industry.
The company’s plan to reposition itself in the cutthroat Nigerian telecom market includes the rebranding from 9mobile to T2.
Significant developments like the three-year national roaming deal with MTN Nigeria, which significantly increases T2’s network reach and improves customer service quality, support this move.
Significance of 9mobile’s rebranding to T2
According to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, the launch of the new brand highlights the advancements made by Nigeria’s telecom industry and its preparedness for future expansion and innovation.
“With the sustainability of Nigeria’s telecom sector now firmly on track, yesterday we celebrated another milestone, the unveiling of the new T2 brand, formerly 9mobile,” Tijani said in a statement.
The Minister emphasised how President Bola Tinubu’s administration has strengthened the telecom foundation.
The government intends to connect over 20 million underserved Nigerians and increase digital access nationwide through progressive policies, investor-friendly reforms, and strategic public infrastructure projects like Project Bridge, a 90,000-kilometre fibre rollout, and the deployment of 7,000 rural telecom sites.
“A sustainable sector attracts more private investment, and when this combined with the government’s infrastructure rollout, we will see a significant improvement in quality of experience, bringing us closer to providing every Nigerian access to meaningful and affordable connectivity,” Tijani wrote.
Two decades of advancement in Nigeria’s telecom sector
Over the past 20 years, operators have expanded broadband penetration to almost half the population and connected over 220 million mobile lines, backed by investments totalling over $75 billion.
He added that Nigeria’s digital economy is anticipated to grow due to the collaboration between government infrastructure projects and private sector investments.
The country’s GDP contribution is expected to increase to more than 20 per cent in the next two to five years.
The Minister characterised T2’s comeback as a clear indication of rekindled investor confidence and a sector ready to provide increased competition, innovation, inclusion, and prosperity.
He congratulated T2’s chairman, board, and management, saying, “Nigeria’s best digital years are still ahead, and together, we are building them.”
9mobile’s steep decline
Before its rebranding, 9mobile had suffered significant challenges over the years.
Techpression reported last year that 9mobile’s customer base declined in September 2024, with 7,127 users switching to other networks.
According to data supplied by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 9mobile accounted for 90 per cent of the 7,886 outbound portings recorded during the month.
The remaining three network operators, MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, shared 10 per cent of the outgoing porting.
Likewise, in September and December 2024, 9mobile saw a steep drop in its subscriber base, with 6,079 people exiting the network.
The NCC report states that 2,188 of the 2,998 users who switched networks in December 2024 left 9mobile and joined other networks during that time.
In November 2024, 9mobile lost 3,891 users of 4,726 subscribers to other networks.
The NCC report stated, “This brought 9mobile’s total number of subscribers lost in two months to 6,079. Other operators recorded insignificant outgoing porting numbers compared to 9mobile.”
According to the NCC’s data, 9mobile’s market share dropped to as low as 1.9 per cent in December 2024, reflecting a dramatic shift in the market dynamics in the Nigerian telecoms sector.
The former domination of 9mobile, which had 23.4 million subscribers and a 15.7 per cent market share in 2015, is a long cry from this decline.
This decline was made worse by the company’s stagnating subscriber base, which had held steady at 3.2 million as of December 2024.
Acquisition of 9mobile by LH Telecommunication Limited
9mobile stated earlier in July that LH Telecommunication Limited had acquired it to restructure the business.
9mobile said in a statement that, as mandated by law, NCC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) approved the acquisition of most of the Nigerian telecom company.
The investment, which was authorised by 9Mobile’s senior lender, African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM), in May 2023, transferred ownership of the company to the new investor. In exchange for the new investor’s investment, 9Mobile issued new shares totalling 95.5 per cent of the company.