Joy Agwunobi
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has received regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to lease spectrum assets from T2 Mobile Limited, formerly known as 9Mobile, in a move designed to strengthen its network capacity and deepen industry collaboration.
According to a corporate disclosure filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the arrangement will take effect from October 1, 2025, and will run for an initial term of three years. Under the deal, MTN Nigeria will lease 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz band and 15MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band from T2 Mobile.
The agreement is considered critical to the recently signed national roaming deal between the two operators, which allows T2 subscribers to access MTN’s network infrastructure. By pairing spectrum trading with roaming integration, MTN says it is pursuing a cost-efficient strategy to manage the additional traffic expected from T2’s customer base, while reinforcing its broader objective of digital inclusion across Nigeria.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, described the development as a major step in the company’s growth journey.
“This move is consistent with our Ambition 2025 strategy and reflects our commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality connectivity. The additional spectrum resources will boost our network capacity in a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable way,” Toriola said.
He added that beyond network expansion, the company is deliberately fostering a more collaborative telecoms ecosystem, citing its national roaming pact with T2 and the onboarding of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) as evidence of its push for innovation and long-term sector sustainability.
“These initiatives not only enhance broadband penetration but also accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and inclusive economic growth,” Toriola noted.
At the same time, MTN disclosed that it will not renew its current spectrum lease agreement with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel), which provides access to 5MHz FDD in the 900MHz band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band across 17 states.
The one-year arrangement with Ntel is set to expire on November 29, 2025, and the company stated it has no plans for renewal.
“We remain committed to investments and partnerships that support the delivery of innovative, high-quality services to Nigerians,” MTN said in the disclosure.
The latest spectrum deal underscores an industry move towards greater infrastructure sharing and collaborative models, as operators seek to optimise scarce frequency resources while extending coverage and improving service quality in Africa’s largest telecoms market.
