9mobile, once the fourth-largest telecommunications giant in Nigeria, has undergone a radical transformation over the last year

If you’ve noticed their branding changing or your signal behaving differently, it’s because the company has officially moved into a new era under new ownership

As of January 2026 here is the status of 9mobile:

1. The Rebrand: 9mobile is now "T2"

In August 2025, 9mobile officially rebranded to T2 The new name stands for "Technology Squared" and marks the third identity for the company (originally Etisalat then 9mobile and now T2). This wasn't just a name change; it was a "reset button" designed to shed the "toxic" reputation of poor service and financial struggle that had plagued 9mobile for years.

2. New Ownership: LH Telecommunication

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The change was triggered by LH Telecommunication Limited which acquired a 95.5% majority stake in the company in July 2024.

The Deal: Backed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the new owners injected fresh capital to save the network from total collapse.

The Leadership: A new board was constituted, chaired by Thomas with Obafemi Banigbe (a veteran with experience at MTN and Airtel) appointed as the CEO to lead the turnaround

3. The "Roaming Rescue" with MTN

One of the most practical changes you might notice is the National Roaming Agreement signed with MTN Nigeria

Because 9mobile's own infrastructure had deteriorated, they struck a deal that allows T2 (9mobile) subscribers to "roam" on MTN’s network. This means that in areas where the 9mobile signal is weak, your phone automatically switches to MTN's towers to keep you connected.

4. The Recovery Roadmap (2024–2028)

The company is currently in the "Transformation" phase of a 4-step recovery plan:

1. Stabilization: Fixing the immediate debt and leadership issues.

2. Modernization: Upgrading old 2G/3G equipment.

3.Transformation (Current):Rebranding to T2 and shifting to a "digital-first" model.

4. Growth:Aiming to win back the millions of subscribers who left for Airtel and MTN.