Airtel Africa said its revenues rose 22.4 percent to $1,415 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, driven by tariff adjustments in Nigeria and strong operational momentum across Francophone Africa.
Mobile services revenue grew 23.8 percent, supported by 13.9 percent increase in voice revenue and 38.1 percent growth in data revenue. Airtel Money also contributed meaningfully, with mobile money revenue up 30.3 percent, fueled by a growing customer base and expanding use cases. Mobile money services saw continued momentum with 11.3 percent ARPU growth and a 35 percent jump in annualised transaction value to $162 billion.
The surge in data demand, reflected by a 47.4 percent increase in usage and 18.5 percent ARPU growth, underlines Airtel Africa’s success in driving digital adoption.
The revenue strength led to EBITDA growth of 29.8 percent, with margins expanding to 48.0 percent from 45.3 percent a year earlier, indicating strong cost control and operational leverage.
Airtel Africa Customer Additions
Airtel Africa’s customer base grew by 9 percent, reaching 169.4 million. The company saw significant momentum in digital adoption, with data customers increasing by 17.4 percent to 75.6 million, reflecting its efforts to bridge the digital divide and expand access to high-speed connectivity.
Mobile money gained traction, with Airtel Money customers rising 16.1 percent to 45.8 million, driven by engagement with a range of financial services. The company also reported a 4.3 percent increase in smartphone penetration to 45.9 percent, supporting data consumption growth and deeper customer engagement.
Airtel Africa Capex and Investment Trends
Airtel Africa reported capital expenditure (Capex) of $121 million, which was lower than the previous period, largely due to timing differences. However, the company reaffirmed its full-year Capex guidance of $725 million to $750 million, signaling continued investment commitment.
The company maintained its strategic focus on expanding network capacity and coverage. Airtel rolled out over 2,300 new sites, bringing the total to 37,579 sites, and extended its fibre network by 2,700 km to exceed 79,600 km. These investments supported a 3.4 percentage point increase in 4G population coverage, which now stands at 74.7 percent across its footprint.
Additionally, Airtel Africa advanced its debt localisation strategy, increasing the proportion of local currency debt (excluding lease liabilities) to 95 percent, up from 86 percent a year earlier — reducing foreign exchange risk.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
