Airtel Africa continues to cement its position as one of the continent’s most influential digital and financial services providers. Its latest half-year results—covering the period ending 30 September 2025—reveal impressive momentum across revenue, customer growth, mobile money usage, and digital adoption. The performance reflects the company’s broader mission: connecting communities and expanding financial access across Africa.
Robust Revenue Growth Driven by Data and Mobile Money
Across its 14 operating markets, Airtel Africa recorded 24.5% revenue growth in constant currency, reaching $2.98 billion. This surge was powered by strong gains in data services, Airtel Money, and continued resilience in voice.
Data remains the standout performer. Revenue from data grew 37%, overtaking voice to become Airtel Africa’s largest revenue stream. Meanwhile, Airtel Money revenue increased 30%, demonstrating the platform’s growing importance in delivering financial services to underserved communities.
Expanding Customer Base and Rising Digital Adoption
The company’s total customer base rose by 11% to nearly 174 million users. Data customers increased 20%, reaching 69.5 million, while Airtel Money users grew to 49.8 million. This growth is supported by rising smartphone penetration—now at 46.8%—and Airtel’s focus on flexible device financing and partnerships with handset manufacturers. These initiatives are helping more Africans gain access to the digital economy.
Network Expansion Fuels Connectivity
Airtel Africa continued investing heavily in network capacity and coverage. In the six-month period, the company:
- Added 2,350+ new network sites
- Expanded fibre infrastructure by 4,000 kilometres
- Increased population coverage to 81.5%
- Upgraded 98.5% of sites to 4G
The company is also exploring 5G deployment in select high-demand markets, setting the stage for the next chapter of Africa’s digital transformation.
Improved Profitability and Operational Efficiency
Operational efficiencies strengthened Airtel Africa’s bottom line:
- EBITDA rose 33.2%, reaching $1.45 billion
- EBITDA margin improved to 48.5%
- Profit after tax surged to $376 million, up from $79 million a year earlier
Analysts attribute these gains to disciplined cost management, stronger operational leverage, and a debt restructuring exercise completed earlier this year.
Airtel Money: Powering Financial Inclusion
Airtel Money remains a major growth engine. The platform processed $193 billion in transactions during the period—a 36% year-on-year increase. With services ranging from merchant payments and domestic remittances to savings and micro-lending, Airtel Money continues to drive financial inclusion across the continent.
According to Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar, the results reflect the growing digital opportunities across Africa.
“The growth we are seeing in data, smartphone adoption and mobile money shows the scale of opportunity across Africa,” he noted. “We remain focused on innovation, network investment and delivering value for our customers and communities.”
Positioning for the Future
Airtel Africa’s performance aligns with a broader shift in Africa’s telecom landscape—from traditional voice to digital platforms that enable economic participation. Data services now steer the company’s growth trajectory, illustrating how mobile internet is transforming business, education, and daily life across the continent.
Looking ahead, Airtel Africa has raised its capital expenditure guidance to up to $900 million for the full year. Additionally, interim dividends and share buybacks signal its commitment to long-term value creation for investors.
Conclusion
Airtel Africa’s half-year results underscore more than financial success—they highlight a company that is powering Africa’s digital and financial evolution. From expanding connectivity to enabling millions of mobile money transactions, Airtel Africa continues to play a central role in creating opportunities and improving lives across the continent.
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