T2, the Nigerian telecom operator formerly known as 9mobile, has turned to Chinese infrastructure giant Huawei to rebuild its core network in what it describes as the start of a long-awaited turnaround.
The multi-dollar deal marks the company’s first major move since rebranding earlier this month. Backed by new investment and a fresh identity, T2 is betting Huawei’s infrastructure will help it claw back ground from larger rivals MTN, Airtel, and indigenous Globacom.
For many subscribers, though, the rebranding has not meant a service change. Fewer than 3,000 remain on the network, and most have endured months without reliable signals. That is the inheritance T2 is now trying to salvage. The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Lagos, underscores T2’s renewed ambition to reclaim its position as a leading, innovative force in the industry, the operator said in an email to The PUNCH on Thursday.
Under the new plan, Huawei will overhaul T2’s network infrastructure to boost capacity, resilience, and security. The project forms part of T2’s four-phase roadmap: stabilisation, modernisation, transformation, and growth, designed to rebuild the company into a competitive force in Nigeria’s $75bn telecom market.
“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 its rebrand to T2, 9mobile struck a three-year national roaming deal with MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest carrier. The agreement, cleared by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulator, in July 2025, lets 9mobile customers connect to MTN’s vast network in areas where their own provider has little or no coverage. The idea was to keep subscribers online while 9mobile, now T2, tried to rebuild and modernise its ailing infrastructure.
Huawei, which has worked with operators across Africa to expand telecom infrastructure, pledged its commitment to supporting T2’s recovery. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation and excellence,” Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria Carrier Business, Jiang Junyong, remarked.
“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 said. The modernisation project would be completed in the coming months, paving the way for expanded coverage and improved quality of service nationwide.
