Airtel Africa is charting an impressive path across the continent and its latest half-year performance underscores just how far the company has come. For the six months ending 30 September 2025, the telecommunications and mobile money provider reported a surge in revenue, customer growth and digital adoption, a reflection of its commitment to connecting communities and enabling financial inclusion in Africa.
Across its 14 markets, Airtel Africa recorded revenue growth of 24.5% in constant currency, reaching $2.98 billion, fueled by strong gains in data, mobile money, and voice services. Data revenue, in particular, has grown 37%, overtaking voice as the company’s largest revenue contributor, while Airtel Money grew by 30%, further cementing its role as a key enabler of financial inclusion.
The company’s customer base expanded by 11% to nearly 174 million, with data customers rising 20% to 69.5 million and Airtel Money users reaching 49.8 million. This growth is driven by a combination of improved smartphone penetration, now at 46.8% and Airtel’s focus on flexible device financing and partnerships with handset manufacturers. Together, these initiatives are enabling more Africans to access digital services than ever before.
Network expansion has been central to Airtel Africa’s strategy. During the period, the company added more than 2,350 new sites and expanded its fibre network by over 4,000 kilometres, bringing coverage to 81.5% of the population, with 98.5% of sites now 4G-enabled. The company is also exploring 5G deployment in select high-demand markets, positioning itself for the next phase of Africa’s digital evolution.
Beyond infrastructure, Airtel Africa has achieved impressive operational efficiency. EBITDA rose 33.2% to $1.45 billion, boosting margins to 48.5%, while profit after tax surged to $376 million, up sharply from $79 million a year earlier. Analysts note that these gains reflect disciplined cost management, improved operational leverage and the benefits of a debt restructuring completed earlier this year.
A central driver of the company’s growth remains Airtel Money, which processed $193 billion in transactions during the period, a year-on-year increase of nearly 36%. The mobile money platform continues to empower millions of Africans with secure and affordable financial services, from merchant payments and remittances to savings and micro-lending.
According to Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, these results reflect a broader mission to enable digital and financial inclusion across the continent. “The growth we are seeing in data, smartphone adoption, and mobile money shows the scale of opportunity across Africa,” he says. “We remain focused on innovation, network investment and delivering value for our customers and communities.”
Airtel Africa’s performance also illustrates a broader trend reshaping the African telecom sector: the shift from traditional voice services to digital platforms that empower communities and unlock new revenue streams. Data now drives the company’s growth, reflecting how connected devices and mobile internet are transforming business, education and everyday life across Africa.
As Airtel Africa looks ahead, the company is doubling down on its strategy, increasing capital expenditure guidance to up to $900 million for the full year. Meanwhile, interim dividends and share buybacks reflect its commitment to creating long-term value for investors.
Ultimately, Airtel Africa’s half-year results are about more than numbers. They reveal a company at the forefront of Africa’s digital revolution, connecting millions of people, expanding financial access, and laying the foundation for a more connected, empowered continent. Each smartphone, each data session and each mobile money transaction represents not just growth for the company but opportunity for Africa.
