Mtn Signs Roaming Deal with 9mobile

MTN Nigeria has signed a three-year national roaming agreement with 9Mobile, officially approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

Under this deal, 9Mobile subscribers can use MTN’s extensive network anywhere in Nigeria, especially in places where 9Mobile’s towers are few or absent.

From the subscriber’s side, this means:

Far-Reaching Coverage: 9Mobile users will now get signal in rural and remote areas where MTN is already strong, but 9Mobile hasn’t yet built towers. You should see fewer dropped calls and better data speeds outside big cities.

Fewer Network Outages: Persistent blackouts and “no service” messages have driven many 9Mobile customers away. With MTN roaming, 9Mobile’s roughly 3.2 million active users (down from over 22 million at its 2016 peak) can expect more reliable connections at home, at work, and on the road.

Seamless Experience: Calls, texts, and internet sessions will switch automatically between 9Mobile and MTN networks without you having to change settings or SIM cards.

For Nigeria’s telecom sector, the pact marks a major shift:

Faster Rural Access: The NCC has long encouraged towers and fibre sharing to cut costs and avoid duplicate infrastructure. This agreement accelerates that goal, helping bring affordable connectivity to underserved states.

Lower Costs and Prices: By sharing MTN’s existing capacity instead of each operator building its own towers, both companies save on construction and maintenance. Those savings can help keep subscription fees and data charges in check.

Industry Collaboration: MTN CEO Karl Toriola said the deal “demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate” and supports the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria. It shows that big and small operators can work together for the public good.

Finally, Nigerians as consumers benefit too:

Digital Inclusion: Better network reach means more people can access mobile banking, online education, telemedicine, and government services, vital tools for economic growth and social development.

Emergency Reliability: In areas hit by floods or unrest, having two networks on your phone can be life-saving if one service goes down. Roaming ensures you stay connected when it matters most.