After experiencing nine months without mobile internet, one individual, who was attached to their 9Mobile number, decided to give it one last try before considering switching to a different network provider. Upon visiting a 9Mobile office at Ikota Shopping Complex in the VGC area of Lagos, it became evident that many other 9Mobile customers were facing similar challenges and seeking solutions.
According to an employee at the 9Mobile office, fiber cuts were identified as the cause of network disruptions in areas like Addo Road, Badore, and Sangotedo, with stable network service available from Ikota to Ikate in Lekki.
Various customers, including one residing in Lekki Phase One, expressed concerns about the inconsistent nature of 9Mobile’s network.
Issues with 9Mobile’s service were not limited to Lagos alone, as evidenced by a customer from Ogun state who eventually switched to a different network due to unsatisfactory experiences with customer care and service reliability.
Despite the acquisition of 9Mobile by LightHouse Telecommunications in July 2024, the telecom company continues to grapple with longstanding challenges and a reputation as an ailing player in the industry.
The decline in infrastructure investment by 9Mobile has led to a deterioration in network quality, prompting a significant number of subscribers to migrate to rival providers. Over 1.1 million subscribers abandoned 9Mobile between March 2022 and March 2024, while MTN Nigeria gained 6.6 million subscribers during the same period.
While market leader MTN Nigeria expanded its fiber optic cable network substantially, 9Mobile failed to add any new fiber optic cables to its existing infrastructure between 2018 and 2022.
A senior telecom executive highlighted the capital-intensive nature of the telecom industry and the challenges faced by networks, even with substantial investments, in maintaining service quality and addressing congestion issues in specific areas.