MTN Nigeria subscribers who rely on the suspended Xtratime airtime lending service will have to wait longer before they can access it again. Sources within MTN Nigeria indicate that the service will be restored only after formal approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which had earlier ordered telecom operators to suspend the service due to new regulations.
Restoration Status Across Networks
While Airtel and Globacom have already restored the airtime lending service on their networks, MTN subscribers are still unable to use Xtratime. One source within MTN confirmed that the company is awaiting a formal directive from the FCCPC regarding the DEON service. Another source added, "Are you sure we have not restored the service? If other networks have done that, MTN should have too. But if not, I can assure you that soon the service will be restored. It could be that the technical team is perfecting the process. The service will be restored anytime soon. That is if it is not on already."
Subscriber Reactions
Despite claims from some platforms that MTN had restored the services, a large number of subscribers on social media disputed this, asserting that the service remains suspended. MTN, Nigeria's largest telecom operator, serves 96 million customers with a 51.6 percent market penetration, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Reports estimate that about 40 million Nigerians use airtime lending services.
MTN's Xtratime Service
MTN's Xtratime allows subscribers to borrow airtime or data and repay through subsequent recharges. The product generates fees, supports telecom consumption, and sits at the intersection of the company's telecom and fintech businesses. Speaking recently in Lagos, MTN Nigeria's Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, stated, "In terms of what needs to happen for us to resume airtime advance service, there are essentially two conditions. First, we would require either a court ruling that sets aside the regulations empowering the FCCPC to license, which has not happened, or a clear directive instructing us to reinstate the service."
Regulatory Developments
The company's stance changed after the FCCPC suspended enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025 on May 22. The suspension followed an April 15 interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos after a lawsuit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), the umbrella body for value-added service providers.
Impact on Customer Demand
MTN insists that Xtratime's absence has not fundamentally altered customer demand. MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, said during the earnings call, "There was a short-term impact on consumption patterns, which lasted only a few days. However, as time progressed, customers adapted. They either shifted to self-funded usage or found alternative ways to manage short-term needs." According to MTN, fees from Xtratime contribute roughly three percent of revenue, while airtime and data consumption linked to the product account for a low-20 percent share of total airtime distribution. Toriola added, "This consumption is split across voice and data in line with the mix reflected in our revenue."
