MTN Nigeria has received approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to lease spectrum from T2mobile under a three-year agreement starting October 1, 2025.
The deal covers 5 MHz in the 900 MHz band and 15 MHz in the 1800 MHz band. It is tied to a national roaming agreement that will allow T2mobile’s subscribers to connect via MTN’s network in areas where T2mobile lacks sufficient coverage.
As part of this realignment, MTN will not renew its one-year spectrum lease with Natcom Development & Investment Limited (NTEL), which expires on November 29, 2025. That agreement currently covers 5 MHz in the 900 MHz band and 10 MHz in the 1800 MHz band across 17 states.
MTN described the new partnership as aligned with its “Ambition 2025” strategy, which prioritises expanding broadband access, improving cost efficiency, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices through infrastructure sharing.
T2mobile—recently rebranded from 9Mobile after its acquisition by Lighthouse Telecoms—is currently in a recovery phase. The operator has outlined plans to stabilise and modernise its operations, with the roaming deal seen as a central step in its turnaround strategy.
By leveraging MTN’s extensive network footprint, T2mobile can maintain services in areas where deploying its own infrastructure would be costly. The operator recently reported subscriber growth of 290,601 in July 2025, its first monthly increase in nearly a year, signalling early signs of market recovery.
For MTN, the lease bolsters its spectrum hMTN Nigeria Secures New Spectrum Lease With T2mobile, Ends NTEL Deal in Strategic Shiftoldings to meet growing data and voice demand. The decision to phase out its lease with NTEL highlights a potential strategic shift toward partnerships that deliver greater scale and efficiency.
