Lebara Launches in Nigeria With Nationwide Self-Service SIM Activation

Lebara has officially switched on its mobile network in Nigeria, marking the telecom brand’s first entry into Africa and introducing what it describes as the country’s first fully self-service SIM activation process.

The launch is a culmination of months of anticipation after the company, operating as a Tier 5 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), began letting Nigerians reserve phone numbers ahead of its commercial debut. With the network now live nationwide, the operator says it is delivering on its original pitch to the market: affordable, reliable mobile service available everywhere from day one, not rolled out region by region.

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The centerpiece of the launch is a self-onboarding system built into the My LebaraNG app, which lets new customers complete identity verification (KYC) in three steps – scan, snap, connect. This is entirely from their phones, with no store visit required. Nigerians who prefer face-to-face help can still walk into any Slot store nationwide, where Lebara agents are on hand to assist with activation.

Customers also get to choose their format, picking between a physical SIM or an eSIM, and can select from bundles the company says reflect how people actually use their phones: usage tracking with no hidden fees, bundled cloud storage, buy-now-pay-later financing on eligible devices, and access to LebaraPlay, the brand’s mobile entertainment platform.

Everyone who reserved a personalized number during Lebara’s pre-launch phase can now claim it, the company confirmed, with activation available either through the My LebaraNG app or at a Slot store ahead of the broader public rollout.

Lebara Nigeria thanked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its regulatory support throughout the licensing and launch process, along with its network host, agents and partners, whom it credited with helping bring the service to market nationwide.

About Lebara Nigeria

Lebara Nigeria is a digital-first MVNO licensed by the NCC and part of the London-headquartered Lebara Group. Founded in 2001, Lebara operates as an MVNO in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Denmark, with its brand also licensed in Spain, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Australia. The group counts more than four million customers worldwide and has built its name as a value-driven challenger in the mobile market.