AIRTEL AFRICA PROFIT MORE THAN DOUBLES IN NINE MONTHS ON STRONG OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar.

Airtel Africa has delivered a standout financial performance for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2025, posting a profit after tax of USD 586 million, more than double the USD 248 million recorded in the previous comparable period. The strong results were driven by higher operating profits, improved foreign exchange dynamics, and disciplined execution of the Group’s growth strategy.

Revenue Growth Accelerates Across Markets

During the review period, Airtel Africa recorded revenues of USD 4.67 billion, representing growth of 24.6 per cent in constant currency and 28.3 per cent in reported currency. Currency appreciation further supported the Group’s strong underlying business fundamentals.

Revenue momentum accelerated in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year, with constant currency revenue growth reaching 24.7 per cent, translating into 32.9 per cent growth in reported currency terms.

Mobile services revenue rose 23.3 per cent in constant currency, underpinned by robust demand for data and voice services. Data revenues, the largest contributor to Group revenue, grew by 36.5 per cent, while voice revenues increased by 13.5 per cent.

Mobile Money Remains a Key Growth Engine

Airtel Africa’s mobile money business continued to deliver strong performance, with revenues growing 29.4 per cent in constant currency. Airtel Money achieved two major milestones during the period, reflecting accelerating digital adoption across its markets.

The mobile money subscriber base expanded by 17.3 per cent to 52.0 million, while annualised total processed value (TPV) for Q3 2026 exceeded USD 210 billion, representing 36 per cent growth. A broader ecosystem and increased digital usage also drove a 9.8 per cent rise in ARPU in constant currency.

Increased Investment Strengthens Network Capacity

In recognition of the significant growth opportunities across its footprint, Airtel Africa stepped up investments in line with its revised capital expenditure guidance.

Capital expenditure rose 32.2 per cent to USD 603 million, supporting the rollout of approximately 2,500 new network sites and the expansion of the fibre network by around 4,000 kilometres. Total fibre coverage now exceeds 81,500 kilometres, enhancing network reach and capacity.

As a result, overall population coverage increased to 81.7 per cent, up 0.6 percentage points year-on-year, improving customer experience and service reliability.

Leadership Commentary

Commenting on the results, Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said the performance highlights the strength of the Group’s strategy.

“These results demonstrate the strength of our strategy, reflecting robust operating and financial performance across the business. During the quarter, we accelerated investment to enhance coverage and data capacity while also expanding our fibre network,” he said.

He added that combining network investment with innovative partnerships is strengthening Airtel Africa’s customer proposition and positioning the company to capture significant growth opportunities across its markets.

Digital Transformation and Customer Growth

Airtel Africa continues to focus on digitisation, technological innovation, and the integration of artificial intelligence into its operations. These initiatives are expected to enhance customer experience, expand digital offerings, and deepen the integration between GSM and Airtel Money services.

Smartphone penetration increased to 48.1 per cent, while the home broadband segment recorded strong growth, reflecting rising demand for reliable, high-speed connectivity. Data ARPU grew 16.6 per cent in constant currency, with average monthly usage increasing to 8.6GB per customer.

Expanding Customer Base

The Group’s total customer base grew by 10 per cent to 179.4 million, supported by continued network expansion and service innovation. Data customers rose 14.6 per cent to 81.8 million, underscoring the growing importance of digital services across Airtel Africa’s markets.

Looking ahead, Airtel Africa remains on track for the Airtel Money listing in the first half of 2026, as it continues to scale its operations and strengthen its role as a key driver of financial inclusion across Africa.