• T2mobile signs network modernization deal with India’s Knot Solutions.

• Upgrade enables real-time billing, personalized plans, self-service apps.

• Part of recovery plan after 2023 Lighthouse Telecoms acquisition.

T2mobile, the Nigerian telecom operator formerly known as 9mobile, announced on Wednesday, September 3, that it has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Knot Solutions, an Indian technology provider. The partnership aims to modernize its core network to improve the speed and reliability of its services across the country.

According to Obafemi Banigbe, T2mobile’s CEO, the partnership is an important step in the operator’s transformation plan.

Under the agreement, Knot Solutions will deploy a new system that will enable T2mobile to introduce real-time billing, offer hyper-personalized data plans, and launch self-service applications, giving subscribers more control.

The alliance is part of a recovery plan initiated in 2023 following Lighthouse Telecoms' acquisition of 9mobile. With nearly 170 million subscribers and a market dominated by MTN, Globacom, and Airtel, Nigeria remains one of Africa's most competitive. To regain market share, the operator must overcome structural weaknesses, including recurrent outages, limited coverage, and service quality inferior to that of its rivals.

This agreement comes just days after T2mobile finalized another partnership with Huawei to modernize its network infrastructure, which is intended to extend coverage, enhance data speed, and strengthen service reliability.

By forging these strategic partnerships, T2mobile hopes to retain existing subscribers while winning back those it has lost in recent years. These investments could also pave the way for a diversification of services, from online education and entertainment to financial solutions. If successful, this gamble would allow the operator to reposition itself in the race and compete more effectively with the industry's major players.

Samira Njoya