MTN Set to Resume XtraTime Service Following Suspension of Lending Rules

Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN Nigeria, is preparing to restore its XtraTime airtime and data lending service after regulators suspended the enforcement of digital lending regulations that had disrupted the offering.

The move follows a decision by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to pause the implementation of its Digital, Electronic, Online, and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025. The suspension came after a court order obtained by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, which challenged the rules.

MTN had previously maintained that the court ruling alone was not sufficient grounds to immediately resume XtraTime, arguing that the regulations themselves had not been nullified. However, the regulator’s decision to halt enforcement has now paved the way for the service’s return.

Competing telecom operators, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, had already resumed airtime lending services after the regulatory pause.

According to MTN executives, the temporary suspension of XtraTime had only a limited effect on customer behavior, as many subscribers adjusted by funding their usage directly or adopting alternative payment methods. The company said fees from the service account for about 3% of its revenue, while usage linked to XtraTime represents a significant share of airtime and data consumption.

Despite its contribution to customer spending patterns, MTN believes the absence of XtraTime is unlikely to have a major impact on its overall financial performance. The company expects consumption levels and revenue growth to remain stable over the long term.

MTN stated in its first-quarter 2026 earnings report that it is completing the onboarding of approved service providers and plans to fully restore the airtime lending service once the process is finalized. The decision highlights the strategic importance of XtraTime in maintaining customer convenience and competitiveness within Nigeria’s telecom market.

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