9mobile, Nigeria: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
9mobile has announced no date to switch off 2G and has no 3G shutdown date we could confirm, according to the sources we checked on 26 October 2026. The table gives each source and how far we trust it; the rest of the page says what this means for IoT devices in Nigeria.
2G and 3G status at 9mobile
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | No plan announced | none | low | mobility.com.ng Formerly Etisalat Nigeria. Mobility (Jun 2025) says 9mobile will eventually have to retire 2G and 3G but gives no date, and says Nigerian 2G will not be shut down in the near future. No 9mobile or NCC date found. |
| 3G | Unclear | none | low | mobility.com.ng Formerly Etisalat Nigeria. Mobility (Jun 2025) says 9mobile will eventually have to shut down its 2G and 3G networks, without a date. No 9mobile or NCC announcement found. |
Confidence is high when the operator or the regulator states the date, medium when several independent sources agree, low otherwise. We recheck every month.
What it means for IoT devices on 9mobile
- 2G keeps running for now. 9mobile has announced no closing date, so 2G fallback still helps devices that roam in Nigeria, but new designs should not depend on it.
- 3G status unclear. Check on site before relying on 9mobile's 3G network.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in Nigeria: permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is not allowed. Details on the Nigeria page.
An M2M.global IoT SIM is not tied to a single network in a country, and its data can reach your cloud without the internet through private delivery.
Other operators in Nigeria
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| Airtel Nigeria | No plan announced | No plan announced |
| Globacom | No plan announced | Unclear |
| MTN Nigeria | Planned, 31 December 2030 | Planned, December 2025 |
All operators and both rules for Nigeria: IoT connectivity in Nigeria. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does 9mobile switch off 2G in Nigeria?
9mobile has announced no date to switch off 2G, as of 26 October 2026. Formerly Etisalat Nigeria. Mobility (Jun 2025) says 9mobile will eventually have to retire 2G and 3G but gives no date, and says Nigerian 2G will not be shut down in the near future. No 9mobile or NCC date found.