MTN to restore Xtratime airtime lending after FCCPC suspends digital lending rules

MTN Nigeria plans to restore its Xtratime airtime lending service following the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's (FCCPC) suspension of new digital lending rules. The telecom operator had previously resisted resuming the service despite court rulings against the regulations, but will now reinstate it after FCCPC suspended enforcement of DEON Regulations 2025 on May 22.

Airtel and Globacom have already restored their airtime lending services after the regulatory pause. MTN's Xtratime allows subscribers to borrow airtime or data and repay through subsequent recharges, generating fees while supporting telecom consumption at the intersection of the company's telecom and fintech businesses.

Fees from Xtratime contribute roughly 3% of MTN's ₦5.2 trillion ($3.77 billion) 2025 revenue, with airtime and data consumption linked to the product accounting for a low-20% share of total airtime distribution. The company expects at least ₦6.24 trillion ($4.52 billion) in 2026 and claims Xtratime mainly changed how customers pay rather than whether they consumed services, insisting no material impact on full-year performance.

MTN is advancing onboarding of approved providers and expects to resume the service once completed. Will you use Xtratime when it's restored, or have you found alternative ways to manage your telecom needs during the suspension?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/05/29/mtn-nigeria-to-resume-airtime-lending/