Nigeria’s mobile network operators are increasingly turning to fibre and Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing as rising foreign exchange (FX) exposure, energy costs and capital constraints reshape how telecom infrastructure is deployed, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.
In its 2026 outlook, ‘The Year Ahead: At an Inflexion Point,’ the Lagos-based research firm said the economics of telecom expansion has shifted decisively away from standalone network build-outs toward co-investment, fibre leasing and shared wireless infrastructure, as operators seek to preserve cash flow while sustaining service quality.
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The shift is already playing out through concrete collaboration agreements involving Nigeria’s largest telecom players. SBM Intelligence said infrastructure sharing has moved beyond tower outsourcing into deeper forms of cooperation, including fibre construction and radio access networks, reflecting the severity of cost pressures across the sector.
In a significant regional move, findings by BusinessDay revealed that Airtel Africa and MTN Group announced plans to jointly share fibre network construction and wireless infrastructure, including RAN sharing, in Nigeria and Uganda, while exploring similar arrangements in the Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Zambia. The companies said the partnerships are aimed at improving operational efficiency, lowering costs and expanding coverage in underserved areas.
The collaboration mirrors similar agreements elsewhere on the continent. Airtel and Vodacom Group have entered into infrastructure-sharing arrangements covering fibre networks and tower assets in Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, underscoring a broader industry shift toward capital-efficient deployment models.
In Nigeria, the most advanced example of this transition is a landmark infrastructure-sharing and spectrum leasing agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9mobile (now T2 Mobile), endorsed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The partnership, described by regulators as the first of its kind in the country, allows T2 Mobile to utilise MTN’s expansive radio access network to improve nationwide coverage while retaining its independent core network, billing systems and service identity.
Obafemi Banigbe, chief executive officer, T2 Mobile, said the three-year agreement would allow the company to expand coverage without duplicating capital-intensive infrastructure.
“This partnership allows us to deliver better coverage by leveraging MTN’s radio access infrastructure in areas where we do not currently have a presence. It is not a merger or coalition; it is a commercial partnership grounded in industry efficiency,” Banigbe added.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria’s chief enterprise business officer, described the partnership as a shift from pure competition toward collaborative efficiency.
“This is a pioneering agreement. We are excited to be part of a shift from pure competition to co-opetition, collaborating in areas where we can drive efficiency, while still competing on service and innovation,” Saint-Nwafor said.
SBM Intelligence linked the rise of such partnerships directly to mounting macroeconomic pressures. The report noted that the depreciation of the naira had sharply increased the cost of imported telecom equipment, while diesel-powered base stations continue to strain operating expenses. Even after the NCC approved a long-awaited tariff adjustment capped at 50 percent, the report said higher prices alone are insufficient to offset these structural challenges.
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As a result, operators are recalibrating expansion strategies, particularly around fibre networks, which underpin mobile broadband, 5G services, fintech platforms and enterprise connectivity. Rather than deploying parallel fibre routes, telcos are likely going to lease capacity or co-invest with neutral-host providers in 2026, to limit exposure to foreign exchange volatility and right-of-way charges imposed by state governments.
SBM Intelligence said 5G deployment further illustrates this shift. While Nigeria has launched 5G services, rollout remains selective, concentrated in commercially viable locations such as business districts and industrial zones, where returns justify investment.
The report described Nigeria’s telecoms sector as being at a strategic turning point, moving from an era of rapid subscriber expansion to one focused on durability, shared assets and disciplined capital deployment.
“The sector is no longer in a phase of unchecked growth. It is adjusting to economic realities that reward collaboration and infrastructure efficiency,” SBM Intelligence said.
As costs remain elevated and demand for data continues to rise, the report said fibre sharing, RAN sharing and co-location agreements are likely to deepen, positioning collaboration, rather than duplication, as the defining feature of Nigeria’s next phase of telecom expansion.
