Airtel Africa has today released its Sustainability Report 2025, reaffirming its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact while accelerating digital and financial inclusion across 14 African countries.
The leading telecoms and mobile money services provider revealed major strides in bridging the digital divide, empowering underserved communities, and promoting sustainable business practices throughout the 2024/25 financial year.
“This year’s achievements, from connecting 2,176 schools through the UNICEF partnership to reaching 44.6 million Airtel Money customers with near-gender parity, prove that the power of technology is a catalyst for gender balance,” said Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar. “At Airtel Africa, we are not only expanding networks but building bridges to education, financial security, and sustainable growth for Africa’s next generation.”
Key ESG Milestones in 2024/25:
Digital Access and Connectivity
81.2 percent population coverage across 14 markets, up from 80.4 percent the previous year.
Deployment of 36,159 4G sites, with over 15,300 in rural regions.
$670 million invested in expanding and modernising network infrastructure to improve speed, reach, and reliability.
Financial Inclusion and Gender Equality
73.4 million data customers, marking a 14.1 percent year-on-year increase.
44.6 million Airtel Money users, up 17.3 percent with women making up 44.2 percent of the user base, a 6.2 percent rise.
A network of 1.7 million mobile money agents, growing 23.4 percent from the previous year.
Women now represent 29.2 percent of Airtel Africa’s workforce, up from 28.3 percent.
Education and Empowerment
2,176 schools now have free internet access, a significant rise from 1,201 in the previous year.
The company says these initiatives unlock learning and employment opportunities for youth and women across its footprint.
Environmental Impact
500 off-grid sites converted to grid power to reduce diesel dependency.
93 percent of total waste recycled, a 3 percent improvement year-on-year.
The report aligns with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and GSMA telecom industry standards, reinforcing Airtel Africa’s transparency and accountability in sustainability reporting.