T2, the Nigerian telecom operator formerly known as 9mobile, has partnered with Chinese tech giant Huawei to rebuild its core network, marking the first major step in its turnaround drive.
The multi-million-dollar agreement is T2’s biggest move since its rebrand earlier this month.
With fresh investment and a new identity, the operator is banking on Huawei’s infrastructure to help it regain market share from MTN, Airtel, and Globacom.
For subscribers, however, little has changed. Fewer than 3,000 remain on the network, many of whom have endured months of poor service.
T2 says the Huawei deal is aimed at reversing that decline. Signed in Lagos, the agreement highlights the company’s ambition to reclaim its place as a key player in Nigeria’s $75bn telecom industry.
Huawei will overhaul T2’s infrastructure to improve capacity, resilience, and security.
The project aligns with T2’s four-phase roadmap—stabilisation, modernisation, transformation, and growth—designed to reposition the operator as a competitive force.
“This agreement is more than a contract; it’s a catalyst,” Chief Executive Officer Obafemi Banigbe stated. “Huawei has been a trusted partner throughout our journey, and this next chapter reaffirms our shared commitment to innovation, reliability, and excellence. With Huawei by our side, we’re not just upgrading our network; we’re future-proofing it.”
Before rebranding as T2, 9mobile signed a three-year national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest carrier. Approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in July 2025, the deal allows 9mobile subscribers to access MTN’s extensive network in areas where their own coverage is weak or unavailable. The arrangement was designed to keep customers connected while the operator worked to rebuild and modernise its struggling infrastructure.
Huawei, which has partnered with telecom operators across Africa on network expansion, has pledged its full support for T2’s recovery efforts.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation and excellence,” Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria Carrier Business, Jiang Junyong, stated.
“We’re bringing world-class solutions to help T2 build a resilient, high-performance core network that will support next-generation services and long-term growth,” T2 added.
