New Mobile Virtual Network Operators Start Rolling Out To Disrupt The Nigerian Telecom Market

Yesterday, my buddy sent me a photo he took of a billboard advertising a new telecom operator. It turned out to be Vitel Wireless, one of the new mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) licensed by the NCC in 2023.

But Vitel isn’t the first to start publicity. Before it, Btel NaaS had started some publicity about two years ago. As a matter of act, Btel’s social media handles have been active all this while. What we are not sure of is whether Btel has been seeking SIM cards and has active subscribers already.

Anyway, I decided to draw up the list of Nigerian MVNOs that have begun public awareness activities (whether or not they are commercially operational).

Btel NaaS

Btel was the first MVNO to make the headlines in the country. It is operated by BRICLINKS Africa PLC (BRICNET) and is a Tier 2 license holder, which means it can own and issue its own SIM cards, own and operate its own Intelligent network, and own and operate EIR/HLR/AUC/HSS (we will get into the technicalities of these abbreviations some other time).

However, apart from an active social media presence, there is little else that seems to be going on with Btel. We do not have news that it has acquired a numbering plan yet or is ready to roll out and sell services. The ‘NaaS’ in Btel NaaS stands for ‘network as a service’.

Official website: btel.com.ng

Vitel Wireless

Vitel Wireless is a Tier 3 MVNO and was the first to be issued a mobile number series by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The allocation of the 0712 mobile number series happened in January 2025 when Vitel also announced that it intended to roll out services in the 2nd quarter of 2025. And it appears that they mean business.

Already, you can reserve numbers from Vitel’s website. The operator says that its services will be as simple as it comes – per second billing for calls and pay as you use for mobile data. You pay for only what you use. No complicated bundles and plans.

This MVNO is riding on MTN Nigeria’s network, and being a Tier 3 mobile Virtual network operator means that Vitel has full access to the core facilities of MTN and can provide a wider range of more comprehensive services compared to lower tiers. Vitel Wireless has confirmed that international roaming is part of the services it is offering.

The company is building SIM card sales points around the country and also customer care centres in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu.

Official website: vitelwireless.com

As at may 2025, Vitel Wireless seems to be the only virtual operator among the 46 that were licensed in 2023 by the NCC that is ready to roll out services to subscribers. It has been silence from most of the others. We will be updating this page with fresh information as more mobile virtual network operators hit the ground.

Understanding the tiered licensing mobile virtual network operator model in Nigeria

• Tier 1 – Virtual Operator (resellers using MNO SIM cards that are rebranded)
• Tier 2 – Simple Facilities Operator (resellers that can also provide VAS)
• Tier 3 – Core Facilities Operator (companies with complete core systems, business support systems [BSS], full control over SIM cards, and a global title and numbering plan)
• Tier 4 – Virtual Aggregator or Enabler (wholesale companies that can install a full core network and BSS and offers services to other MVNOs as an enabler or aggregator)
• Tier 5 – Unified Virtual Operator (the the most complex tier allowing licensees to offer a bespoke combination of Tier-1 to Tier-4 services, includes an infrastructure license)

Author: Mister Mobility

Web Developer and Techie with a passion for storytelling. I have owned, used, and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.