9mobile Records First Subscriber Gain of 2025
Telecommunications operator 9mobile, which recently rebranded as T2, has achieved its first subscriber growth in 2025, marking a significant turnaround after years of customer decline.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data for July 2025, 9mobile added 290,601 new subscribers, driven by its national roaming and infrastructure sharing deal with MTN, Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator.
This marks the first monthly gain for 9mobile in almost a year.
Market Trends: How 9mobile Outpaced Competitors in July
For July 2025, 9mobile stood out as the only telecom operator among Nigeria’s four major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to record subscriber growth.
Meanwhile, the other three — MTN, Airtel, and Globacom — all lost active subscriptions during the month, leading to a decline in Nigeria’s overall mobile base.
- Airtel suffered the biggest setback, losing 2.4 million subscribers, bringing its active base down to 56.5 million from 58.9 million in June.
- MTN lost 106,345 subscribers, reducing its database to 89.1 million.
- Globacom saw a drop of 143,701 subscribers, ending the month with 20.7 million.
Overall, Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions fell from 171.5 million in June to 169.1 million in July 2025.
Market Share Breakdown (July 2025)
- MTN: 52.70% (still the market leader)
- Airtel: 33.42%
- Globacom: 12.26%
- 9mobile (T2): 1.61%
Despite its gain, 9mobile remains in 4th position with a distant share of the market.
The decline in active lines also pushed Nigeria’s teledensity down to 78.11% in July, compared to 79.22% in June, based on an estimated population of 216 million.
The Game-Changing MTN–9mobile Roaming Deal
The positive shift for 9mobile stems from its infrastructure sharing and national roaming deal with MTN, announced on July 3, 2025.
The agreement, approved by the NCC, allows 9mobile subscribers to access MTN’s network nationwide, including areas where 9mobile has poor or no coverage.
Key benefits of the deal:
- Seamless connectivity for 9mobile subscribers across Nigeria.
- Improved call, SMS, and data services in underserved areas.
- Cost efficiency, as 9mobile avoids the heavy capital burden of building its own infrastructure.
This partnership is widely regarded as a strategic lifeline for 9mobile, enabling it to sustain operations and gradually rebuild customer confidence.
Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Telecom Industry
The 9mobile-MTN deal represents a major shift in Nigeria’s telecom landscape, showing how infrastructure sharing can:
- Expand network coverage across rural and urban areas.
- Reduce the financial burden on smaller operators.
- Foster digital inclusion by connecting more Nigerians to reliable mobile services.
For 9mobile, the subscriber rebound signals the possibility of a long-awaited turnaround after years of decline. For MTN, it reinforces its role as a backbone network provider, supporting industry-wide growth.
Conclusion
After years of struggles, 9mobile (T2) has finally recorded a subscriber gain of 290,601 in July 2025, thanks to its landmark infrastructure sharing deal with MTN.
As Nigeria’s telecom sector faces challenges of declining active subscriptions and teledensity, this collaboration could serve as a model for sustainable growth and improved connectivity in the industry.
The coming months will determine whether 9mobile can maintain this upward momentum and reclaim a stronger position in Nigeria’s highly competitive telecom market.
