T2 Mobile’s Internet Subscriber Numbers Plummet Despite Roaming Partnership with MTN Nigeria

Sharp Decline in Active Internet Users

In September 2025, T2 Mobile (previously known as 9mobile) saw its internet subscriber count drop below 800,000, just three months after entering a roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria aimed at enhancing network coverage and user experience. This partnership, intended to strengthen service reach, has yet to translate into subscriber growth.

Recent statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission reveal a steep month-on-month decline in T2’s active internet users-from 1,002,224 in August to 744,044 in September 2025. This represents a drop exceeding 25%, marking the lowest subscriber base for the operator in recent memory. Consequently, T2 now holds a mere 0.53% share of Nigeria’s total 140.36 million active internet users.

Contrasting Growth Among Competitors

While T2’s numbers have dwindled, competitors have continued to expand their internet user bases. MTN Nigeria increased its subscribers from 76.7 million in August to 77.24 million in September, and Globacom added over 12,000 users, reaching 13.68 million. Overall, the Nigerian telecom sector saw a net gain of nearly 570,000 internet subscriptions during the same period, underscoring that T2’s decline is an isolated issue rather than a market-wide trend.

Data Consumption Trends and Market Implications

Despite the rise in total subscriptions across the industry, data usage slightly decreased from 1,152,347 terabytes in August to 1,147,133 terabytes in September 2025. This stagnation in data consumption, coupled with T2’s subscriber losses, raises questions about the company’s ability to compete in Nigeria’s increasingly data-centric telecom landscape.

Industry Perspectives on T2’s Challenges

An anonymous telecom industry insider commented, “Given MTN’s rapid 5G deployment and Airtel’s aggressive data pricing strategies, T2’s sharp drop in internet users is concerning. The roaming partnership should have bolstered their network reach and subscriber retention, but the data suggests otherwise.”

Data Revenue Surpasses Voice in Nigeria’s Telecom Sector

The Nigerian telecom market is undergoing a significant shift, with data services now generating more revenue than traditional voice calls. In the first half of 2025, MTN Nigeria’s data revenue hit ₦1.23 trillion, outpacing its voice revenue of ₦887.13 billion. Airtel Africa also reported a robust 40% year-over-year increase in data revenue, surpassing growth in voice earnings.

This trend reflects evolving consumer habits driven by increased smartphone adoption, affordable 4G data plans, and growing demand for video streaming and social media platforms. Data now accounts for over 50% of total telecom revenue, signaling a fundamental transformation in the industry’s revenue model.

Strategic Imperatives for T2 Mobile

For T2, the dwindling data subscriber base poses a serious threat to its revenue growth and market relevance. Industry experts suggest that the company must urgently refocus its efforts on aggressive data promotions, expanding broadband infrastructure, and enhancing customer loyalty initiatives to reclaim lost ground.

As Nigeria’s digital economy accelerates, the gap widens between telecom operators investing heavily in data capacity and those falling behind. T2’s recent subscriber decline highlights the critical need for a strategic overhaul to avoid further erosion of its market position and to remain viable in a data-driven future.