Airtel Africa half-year revenue jumps 24.5% to $2.98bn

Airtel Africa plc today announced robust half-year results for the period ended September 30, 2025, with revenues soaring 24.5% in constant currency to $2.982 billion, driven by explosive data demand, Airtel Money’s expanding ecosystem, and strategic network investments across its 14 African markets.

The telecom giant, listed on the London Stock Exchange, reported a customer base of 173.8 million—up 11.0% year-on-year—with data users surging 18.4% to 78.1 million, fueled by a 3.8-point rise in smartphone penetration to 46.8%.

CEO Sunil Taldar hailed the results as “a testament to our customer-first strategy,” spotlighting innovations like the Airtel Spam Alert and the MyAirtel app, which have deepened digital engagement and streamlined user experience.

Airtel Money emerged as a standout growth engine, with its customer base expanding 20% to 49.8 million and annualized total processed value (TPV) in Q2’26 surpassing $193 billion—a 35.9% increase—nearing the symbolic $200 billion milestone. Taldar confirmed that preparations for Airtel Money’s IPO remain on track for a first-half 2026 listing, positioning the fintech arm as a cornerstone of Africa’s financial inclusion agenda.

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EBITDA climbed 33.2% in reported currency to $1.447 billion, with margins expanding to 48.5% (49.0% in Q2 alone), underpinned by cost efficiencies and tariff adjustments in Nigeria.

Profit after tax rebounded sharply to $376 million from $79 million, buoyed by a $90 million foreign exchange gain from naira and CFA appreciation. The Board declared an interim dividend of 2.84 cents per share—up 9.2%—while advancing a $100 million share buy-back program.

Network expansion remained a priority, with over 2,350 new sites deployed and fiber extended by 4,000 km to over 81,000 km, pushing 4G coverage to 98.5% of sites and population reach to 81.5%. Capex guidance for FY’26 was raised to $875–900 million to seize growing data and digital opportunities.

Taldar emphasized, “The rise in smartphone penetration reflects not just demand, but the vast potential to further develop Africa’s digital economy.” With leverage improving to 2.1x and 95% of operating company debt now in local currency, Airtel Africa is fortifying its financial resilience amid currency volatility.