9mobile rebrands as T2

9mobile, Nigeria’s telecommunications company, has rebranded to T2.

The unveiling took place on Friday at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.

The change of name comes a year after LH Telecommunication Limited acquired a majority stake in the network provider.

LH Telecommunication acquired 95.5 percent stake in 9mobile, leading to a change in control of 9mobile.

This is the second time the company’s name will be changed, after it was rebranded from Etisalat to 9mobile in 2017.

Speaking at the event, Femi Banigbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), described the rebrand as “the beginning of a bold new chapter” for the company.

“This is not just a brand unveiling, it is the beginning of a bold new chapter in our history. It is a declaration that we are no longer who we were, but we are becoming something greater. We are becoming something more ambitious,” Banigbe said.

He said the transformation goes beyond a new logo or tagline, representing instead a renewed mission and promise to customers.

The CEO noted that technology is now an integral part of business, culture and human connection, and that Nigerians are increasingly demanding speed, access, and relevance.

“We see it in the rising tide of the youth, we see it in the entrepreneurs that are all over the place across our nation, in the boldness of our startup ecosystem, in the resilience of our SMEs, in the desires of our families to stay connected, to stay informed and to stay entertained anytime and anywhere,” he said.

The EMTS boss stressed that to remain relevant, the company must evolve radically and pragmatically, reimagining how it does business.

He added that the brand is “proudly Nigerian” and built on the spirit of resilience and tenacity that defines the country.

“In the face of overwhelming odds, our people, the Nigerian people, we have shown a spirit of resilience and of tenacity that continues to inspire the world,” he said.

Banigbe said the company has weathered difficult times and experienced setbacks, but just like Nigeria, it consistently returns stronger and more resilient.

The CEO said the company will always come back with renewed focus and determination to tackle the challenges of its market.

BOSUN TIJANI SAYS MOBILE NETWORK OPERATORS HAVE INVESTED BOLDLY

In his remarks, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, commended mobile network operators (MNOs) for their role in transforming Nigeria’s digital landscape.

He highlighted the industry’s growth from fewer than a million mobile lines in 2001 to over 220 million today, as well as the leap in broadband penetration from single digits to nearly 50 percent.

“The MNOs have invested boldly, spending more than 75 billion in towers, fibre, and now 5G, all without any government subsidy. The MNOs have powered our economy, contributing around 16 percent to our GDP, and creating millions of direct and indirect jobs,” Tijani said.

The minister described the T2 rebrand as a strong signal of the company’s readiness to compete, innovate, and contribute more boldly to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a global digital powerhouse.

“Let this rebrand be more than a change of colours or new logo. Let it be a renewed commitment to innovation, to service excellence, and to the millions of Nigerians whose lives and businesses depend on your network every single day,” he said.

Tijani assured that the government would continue to work with industry players like T2 who are “bold enough to invest, agile enough to adapt, and visionary enough to embrace change before it is forced upon them”.

A MILESTONE IN A RECOVERY ROADMAP

It was learnt that the rebrand is a key milestone within the company’s comprehensive four-phase recovery roadmap — stabilisation, modernisation, transformation, and growth.

The strategy was to have been launched in 2023 following the acquisition of 9mobile by Lighthouse Telecoms, led by Thomas Etuh, a businessman and investor.

Since the takeover, the company has made sweeping changes, including the constitution of a board, the appointment of new executive leadership, and the execution of a strategic infrastructure-sharing agreement with MTN Nigeria, allowing the firm to expand its network coverage.

Now entering the ‘transformation’ phase in its recovery roadmap, the company said it is embracing a new name, T2, and a new ambition to lead in innovation, customer experience, and digital lifestyle enablement.

In a post-event statement, 9mobile said the T2 identity reflects a forward-thinking, technology-driven, and customer-centric ethos designed to resonate with Nigeria’s increasingly digital and mobile-first population.

Etuh, also the chairman of EMTS, described the occasion as one that is significant in many respects for the 9mobile brand, as it represents the start of a new phase of life, a fresh start, rebirth, change or transformation, growth, reawakening, and a new order.

“Today marks a new beginning for the 9mobile business. The march has been tedious. The journey has been exhausting,” the businessman said.

“It was faith and love for country that prompted my foray into the acquisition of the 9mobile business. I knew it was a tough call.”

Etuh thanked the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and 9mobile customers for standing by the brand through all its trials and challenges, including multiple litigations.

Also speaking Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, affirmed the alignment between T2’s mission and the state’s digital goals.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the secretary to the Lagos state government, said T2 has come at the right time.

“Its focus on digital innovation aligns seamlessly with the Lagos State Government’s vision for a robust digital economy that empowers citizens, businesses, and communities,” the governor said.

“We welcome partners like T2 who are committed to driving inclusive and transformative growth in our state.”

The transition is expected to be rolled out in phases, ensuring continuity and seamless service for existing customers while gradually introducing the market to the T2 narrative.

The company said T2 will focus on four key pillars: speed, smart living, digital lifestyle, and trust.