The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has permitted MTN Nigeria to lease frequency spectrum from T2 Mobile Limited, formerly 9Mobile, for a three-year term.
The deal, which goes into effect on October 1, is consistent with the business’s 2025 plan to increase network capacity and improve industry cooperation.
MTN Nigeria’s roaming agreement with T2 Mobile
The action comes after MTN onboarded Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and recently signed a nationwide roaming agreement with T2.
Additionally, it coincides with the company’s significant cloud initiatives and ongoing discussions with US and European companies to build AI data centres throughout Africa.
Recently, T2 Mobile added 200,000 new customers. Thanks to this spectrum lease agreement, MTN will be able to manage the increased network traffic through its infrastructure.
To increase capacity and coverage, the lease includes 15MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 1800MHz band and 5MHz FDD in the 900MHz band.
Karl Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, commented on the development, saying that the company is using more spectrum resources to improve network performance in an economical and environmentally friendly way.
He added that MTN is dedicated to creating a more cooperative telecom ecosystem that promotes long-term sustainability and industry innovation.
The telco also stated that it will not extend its current one-year spectrum lease with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel).
The lease expires on November 29, 2025, and it covers 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band and 5MHz FDD in the 900MHz band across 17 states.
9Mobile’s launch of roaming services on MTN Nigeria’s network
In June 2025, Techpression reported that after nearly five years of delays, telecom operator 9Mobile finally received approval to launch nationwide roaming services on MTN Nigeria’s network.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) permitted 9Mobile customers to use MTN’s infrastructure for data, calls, and texts starting on June 1, in places where 9Mobile’s coverage is spotty or nonexistent.
Through this partnership, 9mobile would be able to connect directly to MTN’s extensive network, gaining coverage without investing in developing its own infrastructure.
Mutual benefits
In exchange for hosting the mobile phone company, MTN benefits from partial access to 9Mobile’s underutilised spectrum holdings in the 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 2100MHz bands.
It was reported in July 2025 that MTN Nigeria and 9mobile started a trial of a historic radio access network-sharing arrangement.
Thanks to the agreement approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the operator with three million subscribers can take advantage of MTN’s vast radio access infrastructure while keeping its own core network, billing systems, and customer identity.
The MTN-9mobile partnership is anticipated to enhance mobile coverage, particularly in underserved areas, while lowering costs and speeding up broadband penetration, a significant objective of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan.