Effective from 1 April 2026, individuals under the age of 18 will no longer be permitted to access airtime advance services from mobile network operators. The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) announced this regulatory measure during a press conference held in Maseru.
The measure is supported by enhanced SIM card registration systems that verify users’ ages through national identification documents. The Authority stated that this step is intended to protect minors from financial burden and promote responsible financial behaviour. All outstanding airtime advance balances must still be settled, and parents and guardians are encouraged to assist minors in clearing any debts.
In addition, the LCA announced that all two-way radios (lirojaroja) must be registered with and approved by the Authority before use. Users are required to ensure that such devices do not interfere with licensed radio communication services.
The LCA emphasized that compliance with these regulations is mandatory, and failure to do so will result in penalties.
Source: Department of Information, PR UNIT
