Telecom operator T2, formerly known as 9mobile, has signed a strategic partnership with global ICT leader Huawei to overhaul its core network infrastructure, marking a decisive step in its bid to reclaim relevance in Nigeria’s competitive telecommunications sector.

Although the financial details were not disclosed, T2 described the agreement as a multi-million-dollar deal.

Unveiled at a signing ceremony in Lagos, the partnership will see Huawei modernise T2’s core systems to enhance capacity, resilience, and security. The project forms part of the company’s four-phase strategic roadmap: Stabilisation, Modernisation, Transformation, and Growth—a framework designed to reverse years of subscriber decline and restore long-term competitiveness.

T2, once among Nigeria’s largest mobile operators with more than 23 million subscribers, saw its customer base shrink to fewer than 3 million after prolonged network deterioration and financial turbulence. However, the company recently signaled a fresh start with a corporate rebrand and renewed investment drive.

Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of T2, described the Huawei deal as more than a technical upgrade:

“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.”

Also present at the ceremony were top executives including COO John Vasikaran, CTIO Ayodeji Adedeji, VP Corporate Service Ifeloju Alakija, and VP Brands & Communication Seni Ogunkola.

From Huawei’s side, Jiang Junyong, CEO of Huawei Nigeria Carrier Business, pledged that the collaboration would deliver world-class network solutions, helping T2 build a “resilient, high-performance core network that will support next-generation services and long-term growth.”

Industry analysts note that the move could significantly expand T2’s nationwide coverage and improve service delivery, at a time when Nigerian consumers are increasingly demanding faster and more reliable digital connectivity. The project is expected to reach completion in the coming months, setting the stage for T2’s resurgence.

T2 has already begun showing signs of recovery. Following its recent infrastructure-sharing deal with MTN Nigeria, the company recorded its first subscriber growth in nearly a year in July, adding 290,601 new customers, according to Nairametrics. Notably, T2 was the only operator among Nigeria’s four major MNOs—including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom—to gain subscribers that month.

The partnership with Huawei, analysts say, underscores T2’s ambition to rebuild consumer trust, strengthen its network, and reposition itself as a serious contender in Nigeria’s telecom market.