9mobile bleeds subscribers as roaming deal with MTN stalls

Struggling telecom operator 9mobile is rapidly losing subscribers as it awaits regulatory approval for a national roaming deal with MTN Nigeria. The deal, which could grant 9mobile access to MTN’s extensive infrastructure to improve its network coverage and service quality—a sore point for many subscribers—is progressing more slowly than expected. 

The operator lost 318,825 subscribers in February and March 2025 alone, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reducing its customer base to just 2.96 million and shrinking its market share to 1.72% from 1.9% in January 2025.

9mobile’s network has steadily declined, plagued by outages, poor coverage, and slow data speeds. Limited investment under new owners, LightHouse Capital, has worsened the situation, frustrating customers and driving mass exits. Retention efforts through support campaigns and promotions have failed, with even number porting hindered by network unavailability. As market share dwindles, the stalled roaming deal with MTN is seen as a critical fix for the struggling operator.

MTN and 9mobile declined to comment on the status of the roaming deal. 

According to two people familiar with the matter, MTN Nigeria and 9mobile are still waiting on the NCC to greenlight the deal. While the technical and commercial aspects of the partnership have been outlined, regulatory clearance is essential to ensure compliance with industry rules and to uphold a level playing field. The NCC must evaluate whether the roaming arrangement aligns with national priorities, including the Nigerian National Broadband Plan and digital economy goals.

As part of the approval process, the NCC also examines the deal’s potential to enhance rural connectivity, support infrastructure sharing, reduce costs, and improve service quality in underserved areas. This scrutiny ensures that such partnerships benefit the participating companies and align with broader public interest. Additionally, the NCC must verify that the agreement complies with licensing requirements and technical standards to avoid market distortion or anti-competitive behavior.

The regulatory approval timeline typically ranges from six to twelve weeks. This includes an initial documentation review (2–4 weeks), technical and commercial evaluation (2–6 weeks), potential stakeholder consultations (1–3 weeks), and final approval with public disclosure (1–2 weeks). 

The NCC did not respond to a request for comments.

This isn’t the first time 9mobile and MTN Nigeria have collaborated on roaming. In August 2020, the NCC approved a three-month national roaming trial between the two operators in select areas of Ondo State. The pilot allowed subscribers from either network to connect via the other’s infrastructure where their primary service was unavailable. The trial was successful and set the foundation for a broader partnership.

Since then, both parties have pushed for a long-term agreement that includes shared access to network resources and spectrum bands. Under the current proposal, MTN would also gain access to 9mobile’s 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands, potentially optimizing overall network usage across the country.

“The NCC is delaying because it knows a deal gives the other party (MTN Nigeria) the upper hand,” said one telecom executive who asked not to be named to speak freely. “They know what it means for MTN to get its hands on 9mobile’s spectrum.”

But without regulatory approval, 9mobile remains in limbo. Once a major player with 23.4 million subscribers and 15.7% market share in September 2015 (when it operated as Etisalat Nigeria), the company has lost over 20 million users in less than a decade. Its current subscriber base of 2.96 million is a stark reminder of how far the operator has fallen and how urgently it needs a strategic solution.

The roaming agreement, if approved, could offer 9mobile a critical lifeline. But every delay further erodes its position in Nigeria’s competitive telecom market.