• Airtel launches a 4G smartphone financing plan with Itel’s entry-level A50

• Customers pay in weekly installments via SmartCash after a 19,000–21,000 naira deposit

• Initiative supports Airtel Africa’s data-driven growth amid rising digital usage

Airtel Nigeria has launched a 4G smartphone financing program in mid-November in partnership with Itel, the entry-level brand of Chinese manufacturer Transsion. The initiative allows Airtel subscribers to obtain 4G-compatible smartphones and pay in installments spread over several weeks.

To qualify, customers must have been active on the Airtel network for at least three months, hold a registered SmartCash account, present an official ID (NIN, voter card, or driver’s license), and give consent for data processing. Once approved, final registration is completed at any Airtel store. After an initial deposit of 19,000 or 21,000 nairas, customers receive their Itel A50 smartphone and gain immediate access to high-speed 4G Internet. All payments, including the deposit and weekly installments, are made exclusively through SmartCash, Airtel’s secure mobile money subsidiary.

“Connectivity is opportunity, and smartphones are the key that unlocks it. Through the Airtel Smartphone Financing Program, we are enabling more Nigerians to access 4G technologies, experience the full benefits of digital inclusion without financial strain, and transform the way they learn, work, and live. This initiative goes beyond providing devices; it is about empowerment, progress, and building a truly connected future,” said Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria.

The program aligns with Airtel Africa’s strategy to accelerate data revenue growth through increased smartphone adoption and higher subscriber usage. It comes as digital transformation accelerates, driven by data-intensive uses such as remote work and entertainment platforms like TikTok.

In Nigeria, data service revenue rose 62.4 % at constant exchange rates in the first half of 2026, reaching $357 million out of total revenue of $697 million. This growth stems from an increase in data subscribers, from 26.3 million to 29.5 million, and a rise in average revenue per user (ARPU), from $1.6 to $2.2. Average monthly data consumption per customer reached 10.1 gigabytes, up from 8.1. Smartphone penetration reached 52.8 %, and average monthly usage per smartphone rose to 12.7 gigabytes, compared with 10.9 gigabytes in the previous period.

Isaac K. Kassouwi