In a dramatic move to salvage its dwindling fortunes, embattled Nigerian mobile network operator 9mobile has officially rebranded as T2. The announcement was made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Obafemi Banigbe, during a corporate event in Lagos on Friday.
Once a promising player in Nigeria’s telecom industry, the network now holds the lowest market share in the country. According to recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as of June 2025, the firm has just 2.4 million subscribers, representing a mere 1.42% of Nigeria’s 171.73 million active telecom users.
Industry analysts say the company has been struggling for the past eight years, plagued by management crises, declining service quality, and an inability to keep pace with aggressive competitors like MTN, Airtel, and Glo.
The rebranding to T2, insiders say, is part of a broader survival strategy aimed at reshaping the company’s image and reconnecting with Nigeria’s increasingly demanding telecom customers. However, critics argue that without significant improvements in network coverage, customer service, and pricing, a name change alone may not be enough to reverse its fortunes.
With the Nigerian telecom market becoming more competitive and technology evolving rapidly, T2 now faces the challenge of proving that it can not only survive but thrive in an industry where brand loyalty is often tied to performance.
Whether this rebranding will mark the beginning of a comeback story or the final chapter in the company’s decline remains to be seen.
