Lebara Nigeria is a new telecommunications company that just launched into the network providers market in Nigeria. The new telecom is a subsidiary company of Lebara -- a London-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
The company secures a Tier 5 license from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to operate and offer mobile network services in Nigeria's telecom market with major players like MTN, 9Mobile, Airtel, and Globacom.
The company is set to launch in the third quarter of 2025, and has secured 0724 number series assigned by NCC for its services. This means that Lebara Nigeria’s customers will have phone numbers starting with the prefix 0724. In addition to that, the telecom plans to sell minutes rather than airtime that's common among existing telecoms.
The billing model is called "Minute-based Billing" and the plan to implement this billing model rather than traditional airtime is for the purpose of offering seamless, affordable, and innovative mobile services in Nigeria. With this billing plan, Cost-conscious consumers can simply switch to Lebara for their mobile connectivities when it's fully launched.
How Does Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Works?
A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a telecom company that provides mobile phone services without owning the physical network infrastructure, such as cell towers or radio spectrum.
Instead, an MVNO secures partnership with a traditional Mobile Network Operator (MNO) like MTN, Airtel, or GLO to use their physical network infrastructure, such as cell towers or radio spectrum to offer mobile connectivity services.
The partnership will allow MVNO to purchase wholesale access to offer services under its own brand. In a statement issued by Lebara, the company said it has secured full interconnectivity with all major mobile network operators in Nigeria. The company got approval from NCC to lease network capacity from Nigerian telecoms.
The major advantage of MVNO License is that it let telecom companies to buy and sell mobile services like calls, texts, and data without the high costs of building and maintaining infrastructure. However, the companies have to manage their own customer relationships, branding, and pricing, while the MNO handles the technical aspects like network coverage and connectivity.
For example, Lebara can use it own phone number 0724 series, have its own offices, billing model, branding, customers, taxes with government and so on. Lebara Nigeria’s Chief Operating Officer, Akin Adesokan, stated that the launch in Nigeria is part the company’s dedication to providing affordable, top-notch services to mobile users.
The Tier 5 License, also known as a Unified Virtual Operator License, Lebara secured from the NCC is a type of MVNO License that allows a telecom companies offer a flexible range of telecom services, from basic resale to advanced services like those of Tier 1 to Tier 4 MVNOs, without owning any network infrastructure.
The License works by enabling the MVNO to lease network capacity from a licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO), such as MTN or Airtel, and provide services like calls, texts, and data under its own brand, with full interconnectivity to other networks, while the MNO handles the underlying network operations.
FAQs
Is Lebara a U.K. SIM?
Lebara is a London-based telecommunications company currently operating as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in five different countries including the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The company is eyeing Nigerian market with plan to launch in Q3 2025.
Is Lebara a U.K. SIM? Yes, Lebara works in U.K. with a traditional SIM card. Furthermore, Lebara, as brand, is also being used under Licenses in four more countries: Australia, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and Spain, totaling ten (10) countries where Lebara’s services or brand are active.
How to Use Lebara in the U.S.A.?
Lebara is currently not available in the United State.
How Much is Lebara SIM Card in Nigeria?
At the time of writing, Lebara hasn't specified a certain amount it'll offer its SIM cards for sell. The company only said it'll charge customers for minutes used not airtime. However, Lebara offers free SIM cards to customers in the UK, with costs tied to service plans.
