T2, the Nigerian telecom operator formerly known as 9mobile, has entered into a multi-million-dollar agreement with Chinese infrastructure giant Huawei to rebuild its core network as part of a new turnaround strategy.
The deal, signed at a ceremony in Lagos, marks the first major move by the company since it rebranded earlier this month. Backed by fresh investment and a new identity, T2 says the partnership will help it regain lost ground from bigger competitors MTN, Airtel, and indigenous operator Globacom.
For many subscribers, however, the rebranding has not yet translated into improved services. Industry figures indicate that fewer than 3,000 active customers remain on the network, most of whom have faced months of unreliable signals. This is the legacy T2 is seeking to correct with the Huawei partnership.
Under the agreement, Huawei will overhaul T2’s network infrastructure to improve capacity, resilience, and security. The project forms part of T2’s four-phase roadmap: stabilisation, modernisation, transformation, and growth, which the operator says will position it to compete in Nigeria’s $75bn telecom market.
Chief Executive Officer of T2, Obafemi Banigbe, described the deal as a turning point. “This agreement is more than a contract; it’s a catalyst. 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,” Banigbe said.
Before its rebrand, 9mobile had signed a three-year national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest operator. The deal, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in July 2025, allows 9mobile customers to connect to MTN’s extensive network in areas where their own provider has weak or no coverage. That measure was intended to keep customers online while the company pursued long-term infrastructure recovery.
Huawei, which has played a central role in expanding telecom networks across Africa, pledged to support T2 in restoring its market relevance. Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria Carrier Business, Jiang Junyong, said the company would deliver “world-class solutions to help T2 build a resilient, high-performance core network that will support next-generation services and long-term growth.”
According to T2, the modernisation project is expected to be completed in the coming months, after which subscribers nationwide should begin to see improvements in service quality and coverage.
