Mobile phone subscribers across Nigeria and other emerging markets obtained airtime worth $3.18 billion on credit in 2025, with Africa accounting for more than 94 per cent of the total value, according to the latest financial statements released by fintech company Optasia.
The firm’s 2025 consolidated accounts showed that airtime advances provided through telecommunications operators increased from $2.83 billion in 2024 to $3.18 billion last year, representing a 12.3 per cent rise.
Optasia disclosed that service fees generated from airtime credit amounted to $3.176 billion during the year, compared with $2.829 billion recorded in the previous year.
In naira terms, the value of airtime credit extended to subscribers stood at approximately N4.61 trillion in 2025, up from about N4.38 trillion in 2024. The increase came despite a stronger naira, with the exchange rate improving to N1,450.58 to the dollar at the end of 2025, compared with N1,547.30/$ recorded a year earlier.
Africa remained the company’s largest market, accounting for $2.99 billion, or 94.2 per cent, of all airtime credit disbursed during the year. This marked a significant increase from the $2.53 billion recorded for the continent in 2024.
Outside Africa, Europe and Asia jointly contributed $96.1 million in airtime advances, while the Middle East accounted for $87.7 million.
