Vitel Wireless Limited, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria, says it has achieved a major milestone by becoming the first MVNO to complete interconnectivity with all four major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country.
The breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers using its dedicated 0712 number series to make and receive calls across the MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile networks.
The development marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s telecoms market as Vitel sets a precedent for MVNO integration in Africa’s largest telecoms economy, the company says in a statement seen by Technology Times.
Vitel Wireless says it is entering a national pilot phase in May 2025 ahead of a planned commercial launch in July 2025. The company says it aims to deliver next-generation mobile services, including voice, SMS, and data, to millions across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
CEO: Vitel Wireless to launch commercial MVNO service in July 2025
Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, MFR, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vitel Wireless, confirms that the company is preparing for a full market rollout following this achievement.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” Nwabueze says. “We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Vitel Wireless says it is entering a national pilot phase in May 2025 ahead of a planned commercial launch in July 2025. The company says it aims to deliver next-generation mobile services, including voice, SMS, and data, to millions across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The interconnectivity milestone follows the licensing of 46 MVNOs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecoms regulator, under its policy drive to deepen competition and expand service access in the telecoms space.
Vitel Wireless also holds the distinction of being the first MVNO in Nigeria to receive a dedicated number range and international routing codes. The company earlier launched what it says is Africa’s first location-awareness network and is executing a phased national rollout strategy.
According to Vitel, the interconnectivity feat results from a collaborative engineering effort with partners including Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), and engineers from the four major MNOs.
The company attributes the successful interconnection process in part to the regulatory oversight of the NCC.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” Nwabueze says.
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