Millions of Nigerian telecom subscribers can once again access airtime lending services after Airtel and Globacom restored the offerings following the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's (FCCPC) decision to suspend enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025.

The suspension follows an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which temporarily halted implementation of the regulations pending further legal proceedings.

The development brings relief to subscribers who rely on airtime advances for communication during emergencies and periods of temporary cash shortages.

Court Order Forces Regulatory Pause

The FCCPC announced on 22 May that it would suspend enforcement of the regulations after a ruling by Justice A.L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court.

The court order was granted following a lawsuit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which challenged the commission's decision to classify telecom airtime credit services under digital lending regulations.

The FCCPC has indicated that it intends to challenge the ruling, but enforcement remains suspended for now.

Why the Regulations Sparked Controversy

The dispute began when the FCCPC expanded the scope of its digital lending framework to include airtime credit and deferred-payment data services.

Under the regulations, telecom operators offering such services would be treated as digital lenders and required to comply with registration, disclosure, and consumer protection requirements designed primarily for loan providers.

Industry stakeholders argued that airtime credit functions as a telecommunications value-added service rather than a conventional loan product.

WASPAN maintained that the services are already regulated under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) framework and should not be subjected to overlapping regulatory requirements.



Millions of Subscribers Affected

The regulatory uncertainty prompted major operators, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, to suspend airtime lending services in April to avoid potential penalties.

The disruption affected a market that serves millions of Nigerians, particularly low-income subscribers who depend on small airtime advances to stay connected between recharges.

Services such as Globacom's "Borrow Me Credit" disappeared from operator platforms during the suspension period.

Industry representatives have now confirmed that Airtel and Globacom have restored the services, while expectations remain high that MTN could follow suit.

A Growing Regulatory Debate

The DEON Regulations were originally introduced to address abusive practices within Nigeria's digital lending industry, including harassment, privacy violations, and opaque lending terms.

However, the broad definition of lending contained in the framework extended beyond loan applications to include telecom credit services and other deferred-payment products.

Operators warned that applying lending regulations to telecom services could create compliance burdens and operational disruptions without improving consumer protection.

The NCC has also maintained that airtime credit falls within telecommunications regulation rather than consumer lending oversight.

What Happens Next?

While subscribers can once again access airtime advances, the broader regulatory question remains unresolved.

The FCCPC plans to challenge the court order, while industry stakeholders continue to push for clearer boundaries between telecommunications and digital lending regulation.

The outcome could shape how emerging credit-based telecom services are regulated in Nigeria's rapidly evolving digital economy.