Mobile phone users across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and other African nations collectively borrowed N4.61 trillion (equivalent to $3.18 billion) in airtime credit from their respective mobile network operators (MNOs) during 2025. This information comes from the latest financial report released by Optasia, a fintech analytics provider.
Massive Reliance on Nano-Loans
The report underscores a significant dependence on nano-loans to maintain connectivity across the continent. Optasia stated: “Airtime credit services represent service fees charged on airtime credit amounting to $3,176.34 million (2024: $2,829.2 million) granted to subscribers of the telecom operators during the year.” The company’s nano-loan business also experienced rapid expansion, with loan disbursements more than doubling to $2.3 billion as more consumers turned to small digital loans.
Nigeria as a Key Market
Nigeria remains one of Optasia’s most important markets, even as the company faces regulatory uncertainty regarding plans to open the country’s airtime credit sector to additional local fintech firms. Using the exchange rates disclosed in the financial statements, the airtime advances amounted to approximately N4.61 trillion in 2025 in naira terms, up from about N4.38 trillion in 2024. Despite growth in dollar terms, the naira value rose at a slower pace as the exchange rate strengthened to N1,450.58 per dollar at the end of 2025 from N1,547.30 per dollar a year earlier.
Dominance of African Market
According to Optasia, Africa remained the dominant market for the service, accounting for $2.99 billion, or 94.2 percent, of all airtime credit disbursed in 2025. This represents an increase from $2.53 billion recorded in 2024. Europe and Asia accounted for $96.1 million, while the Middle East contributed $87.7 million.
The report analysis indicates that these figures highlight the growing dependence of millions of mobile users across Africa on small-value digital credit products, particularly in economies where access to formal financial services remains limited and household purchasing power is under pressure.
How the Platform Works
Optasia provides airtime advances and nano-loan services through partnerships with mobile network operators and financial institutions. The company’s technology platform assesses subscribers’ behavior and determines their eligibility for credit. According to the company, the platform handles “scoring, financial decisioning and disbursements” by analyzing subscribers’ credit history and other relevant data before determining the amount of advance that can be granted.
The report explains that the company also assumes part of the credit risk associated with the service. “As part of the airtime credit service, the Group also commits to indemnify the MNO for the amount of advance so granted, in case the subscriber fails to pay the same within a specified period of time from the date of grant of advance,” it stated.
Surge in Nano-Loan Transactions
Beyond airtime lending, the company recorded a sharp increase in nano-loan transactions during the year. Its Mobile Financial Services segment facilitated nano-loans worth $2.30 billion in 2025, more than double the $967.9 million recorded in the previous year. Africa accounted for $1.41 billion, representing 61.4 percent of the total, while Europe and Asia contributed $888.9 million. The company stated that the loans were provided through arrangements involving telecom operators and financial institutions, with its proprietary platform supporting credit scoring, approvals, disbursements, and collections.
Financial Performance
The growth in airtime lending and nano-loan transactions boosted the firm’s earnings during the year. Revenue rose by 75.5 percent to $265.36 million in 2025 from $151.19 million in 2024. Mobile Financial Services contributed $167.53 million to revenue, while airtime credit services generated $96.86 million. Africa remained the company’s biggest revenue source, contributing $234.81 million, or 88.5 percent of total revenue, compared with $121.31 million in the previous year. Europe and Asia generated $25.43 million, while the Middle East accounted for $5.12 million. Profit after tax increased to $43.13 million from $36.23 million in 2024, while total assets more than doubled to $302.17 million from $141.79 million.
Optasia describes itself as “an analytics technology services provider in the fintech sector offering its services to large mobile telecom operators to provide airtime/data credit, micro- and nano-cash loans to underbanked populations in the emerging markets.”
