Airtel Africa has announced robust financial and operational results for the year ended 31 December 2025, with the total number of customers increasing by 10 per cent to 179. 4 million, driven by a customer-focused strategy and fast investment in network capacity, digitisation and partnerships.
The telecom group generated revenues of $4. 67 billion, equivalent to a 24. 6 per cent increase in constant currency and 28. 3 per cent growth in reported currency, supported by favourable foreign exchange movements and solid underlying business fundamentals.
During the third quarter of the 2025 financial year alone, constant-currency revenue rose by 24. 7 per cent, reported as a 32. 9 per cent growth.
Profits Surge Due to Strong Operating Performance
Net profit soared to $586 million, more than doubling from $248 million in the previous period. The turnaround was a result of higher operating profits and foreign exchange and derivative gains of $99 million, against losses of $153 million a year earlier.
Airtel Africa Customer Base Hits 179.4 Million as Profits More Than Double
Mobile services revenue soared 23. 3 per cent on a constant currency basis. Data revenues, which contribute the most to Airtel Africa’s revenue, increased by 36. 5 per cent, whereas voice revenues went up by 13. 5 per cent. Mobile money revenues also surged by 29. 4 per cent, indicating the growing usage of digital financial services across the continent.
East Africa Records Solid Growth
In East Africa, revenues increased by 18. 2 per cent in reported currency to $1. 62 billion, and by 14. 4 per cent in constant currency. The stronger reported growth was mainly due to currency appreciation in the Zambian kwacha, Ugandan shilling, and Tanzanian shilling.
Voice revenue increase in the region was assisted by a 9. 5 per cent growth of the customer base and a 3. 1 per cent raise in voice ARPU, which resulted from a wider network coverage and an expanded distribution footprint. Data revenues got a boost from 15. 9 per cent growth in data customers and a 48. 1 per cent surge in data usage.
Network Expansion and Digital Inclusion
Airtel Africa kept on upgrading its network by expanding 4G and 5G coverage. There are now more than 2, 000 5G, enabled sites across four key markets. The average data usage per customer rose to 7. 6GB per month, and the smartphone penetration reached 45. 2 per cent.
Mobile Money customers increased to 52 million, moving past the 50 million threshold, while the transaction values on an annualised basis topped $210 billion. The firm is still targeting the first half of 2026 to list Airtel Money.
According to the Group CEO Sunil Tadar, the results are a testament to the power of Airtel Africa’s strategy. He pointed out that a combination of strict cost control and increased revenues resulted in EBITDA margins reaching 49. 6 per cent, thus, giving more promise to the long, term growth potential of the African markets.