The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially given its nod to a three-year national roaming agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9mobile, a move set to significantly benefit 9mobile’s 2.97 million subscribers. This long-awaited approval, announced by MTN on the Nigerian Exchange, could be a game-changer for 9mobile, which has grappled with persistent coverage and service challenges.
Under the terms of this agreement, according to report, 9mobile subscribers will now have the ability to roam on MTN’s extensive network. This means they can automatically make calls, use data, and access other services even outside of 9mobile’s traditional coverage areas by connecting through MTN’s infrastructure. This initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader push for infrastructure sharing within the telecommunications industry, a model MTN has already been exploring through a similar arrangement with Airtel.
The journey to this approval began with a three-month trial period for national roaming services between the two mobile network operators (MNOs) from August 1 to October 31, 2020.
Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, highlighted the significance of the deal, stating, “This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria.” He further emphasized the importance of collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors to achieve the necessary scale for telecommunications services in Nigeria.
9mobile has faced considerable headwinds in recent years, including the departure of its technical partner and investors, and a subsequent acquisition by LH Telecoms Nigeria, a subsidiary of Light House Capital. Despite the takeover, the company has continued to experience subscriber loss, dropping from 4.65 million to its current 2.97 million.
This new agreement offers a crucial opportunity for 9mobile to leverage MTN’s robust national infrastructure to provide its customers with improved coverage, voice, and data services. In return, MTN, which boasts 90.51 million subscribers, gains access to 9mobile’s valuable spectrum holdings, including the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands, which can further enhance its network capabilities.