Nigeria’s telecom scene just got a major shake-up! Telecom giant 9mobile has officially rebranded to T2, unveiling a fresh identity and an even bigger ambition — to dominate as a digital-first telecom operator with innovation at its core.
Omo, this is going to be hot because they’re not just changing the name; they’re changing the entire game plan.
“Not Just a Name Change” – CEO Speaks
At the grand rebranding event on Friday, attended by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, plus major industry stakeholders, T2’s CEO Obafemi Banigbe made it clear this was more than cosmetics.
“We are no longer who we were; we are becoming something greater, more ambitious, and more in tune with the future,” he declared.
According to Banigbe, T2 will harness cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics to create tailored products, speed up service delivery, and meet the demands of startups, creatives, and remote workers.
Partnerships Powering the Future
Omo, here’s where it gets even more interesting — this rebrand follows a three-year national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, signed in July and approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
What does this mean? T2 customers will now enjoy MTN’s massive nationwide coverage, improving service especially in underserved areas. This kind of collaboration shows Nigerian telcos are finally joining forces instead of just fighting for market share.
A Journey of Transformation
T2’s roots run deep. The brand started as Etisalat Nigeria in 2008, backed by UAE’s Etisalat Group, Mubadala Development Company, and Nigerian investors. It made waves with 3G and later 4G LTE, targeting the youth market and growing to over 15 million subscribers by 2012.
But omo, the telecom industry no dey smile — regulatory hurdles, heavy debts (about $1.2 billion), and stiff competition forced Etisalat Group to exit in 2017. The company then became 9mobile, before Teleology Holdings Limited took over in late 2018.
Now, with the T2 identity, the brand says it’s ready to “reimagine, rebuild, and relaunch” for the digital era.
What to Expect Next
From AI-powered customer service to faster connectivity and better coverage, T2 is positioning itself as the network for Nigeria’s next generation of innovators. Whether this bold move will pay off is left to be seen, but one thing is certain — the telecom battle in Nigeria just entered a new chapter.
