MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (NGX: MTNN) has notified the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that it has received the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the lease of frequency spectrum from T2 Mobile Limited (formerly 9Mobile).
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In a press release signed by the Company Secretary Uto Ukpanah, the telecommunications giant stated that effective 1 October 2025, it will lease 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz band and 15MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band from T2 Mobile for a period of three years.
The spectrum lease arrangement is crucial for the national roaming agreement with T2, enabling MTN Nigeria to effectively handle the increased network traffic from T2’s customer base using our infrastructure, the statement went further to say.
Commenting on the development, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said: “We are delighted with this milestone, which aligns with our Ambition 2025 strategy. It reaffirms our unwavering commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality connectivity to our customers. By leveraging additional spectrum resources, we are enhancing network capacity in a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable way.
We are also fostering a more collaborative telecom ecosystem—recently signing a national roaming agreement with T2 and onboarding Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)—to drive industry innovation and long-term sustainability. These initiatives underscore our dedication to expanding broadband access and advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation and inclusive growth.”
Furthermore, MTN Nigeria will not renew its existing one-year lease agreement with Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (“Ntel”), which currently covers 5MHz FDD in the 900MHz band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz band across 17 states. In line with the agreement’s terms, this lease expires on 29 November 2025.
MTNN had in the second quarter of 2023, entered the initial spectrum lease agreement with NTEL to boost connectivity in 19 states. The deal involved a total investment of US$5.5 million, covering taxes, regulatory fees, and auxiliary charges.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
