MTN, 9mobile begin testing on shared network

Telecom operators MTN Nigeria and 9mobile have commenced testing of a landmark radio access network-sharing agreement, with a full nationwide rollout expected before the end of July, pending validation of system stability.

The deal, endorsed by the Nigerian Communications Commission, allows the operator with three million subscribers to leverage MTN’s expansive radio access infrastructure while maintaining its own core network, billing systems, and customer identity.

The Chief Executive Officer of 9mobile, Obafemi Banigbe, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the company’s recovery strategy.

“Today, we are proud to confirm that we have entered into a three-year national infrastructure-sharing agreement with MTN,” Banigbe said at a joint press conference held in Lagos, Thursday

“This partnership allows us to deliver better coverage by leveraging MTN’s radio access infrastructure in areas where we do not currently have a presence. It is not a merger or coalition, it is a commercial partnership grounded in industry efficiency.”

The move comes at a critical time for the struggling operator, which has witnessed a steep decline in its fortunes over the past decade. Once a major player in Nigeria’s telecom industry with over 23 million subscribers in 2015, the company’s user base has shrunk to just about three million this year, representing a market share of roughly 1.9 per cent, the smallest among Nigeria’s mobile network operators.

The decline has been driven by a combination of poor network quality, frequent service disruptions, and weak customer support. Many subscribers have complained of zero signal in parts of the country, sluggish internet speeds and lack of resolution for service issues, prompting thousands to switch to competitors.

According to NCC data, 9mobile suffered more than 6,000 port-out losses in just two months towards the end of 2024, with minimal gains from port-in traffic.

The telecom executive said the partnership with the country’s biggest operator with 90 million subscribers will allow 9mobile to focus its limited capital on service quality and innovation, rather than infrastructure duplication.

“There is no freeloading here. This is not a subsidy or favour. Our subscribers remain 9mobile subscribers; they are billed by 9mobile, and their experience remains seamless,” Banigbe added.

The Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, said the agreement demonstrates a new model for collaboration in the industry.

“We are excited to be part of a transition from pure competition to co-opetition, collaborating in areas where we can drive efficiency, while still competing on innovation and service quality,” she said.

Saint-Nwafor commended the NCC and its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, for fostering a regulatory framework that encourages infrastructure optimisation.

She also acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, in promoting shared infrastructure as a national priority.

Saint-Nwafor noted that the deal reflects global best practice, particularly in markets where spectrum and capital resources are limited. “We’ve now moved beyond tower sharing to radio access sharing. This is how we build a modern, capital-efficient, and customer-focused telecom industry,” she said.

With pilot tests already under way in select locations and full rollout planned for July, the MTN–9mobile partnership is expected to improve mobile coverage, especially in underserved areas, while reducing costs and accelerating broadband penetration, a key goal of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan.