Airtel Africa has reported another quarter of robust growth, with revenues rising 24.5% in constant currency to $2.98 billion, driven by surging data usage, expanding digital services, and sustained customer growth across the continent.
The company’s performance reflects what CEO Sunil Taldar called “strong, disciplined execution and a deep focus on customer experience.”
The Group’s total customer base reached 173.8 million, an increase of 11%, while data customers surged 18.4% to 78.1 million, reflecting accelerating demand for digital connectivity.
Smartphone penetration climbed to 46.8%, up 3.8 percentage points year-on-year, with data traffic up by 45%, fueling a 16.8% increase in average revenue per user (ARPU).
Airtel Money continues to play a central role in advancing financial inclusion. Customer numbers grew 20% to 49.8 million, and the annualised total processed value (TPV) for the quarter surpassed $193 billion, up 35.9% year-on-year.
This digital momentum supported an 11% rise in ARPU, with Airtel Africa confirming that preparations for an Airtel Money IPO remain on track for the first half of 2026.
Taldar said the company’s success reflects “digital innovation and customer engagement,” pointing to the growing adoption of the MyAirtel app as an example of how Airtel is simplifying user experience while expanding its ecosystem.
Network investment also continues at pace; Airtel added 2,350 new sites, bringing the total to over 38,300, and expanded its fibre network by 4,000 kilometres to 81,000 kilometres.
The company’s population coverage rose to 81.5%, with 98.5% of its sites now 4G-enabled, underscoring its commitment to accessibility and service quality.
Financially, Airtel’s performance was equally strong. EBITDA rose 33.2% to $1.45 billion, with margins expanding to 48.5% from 45.8% a year earlier.
Profit after tax jumped to $376 million, up from $79 million, largely due to operational growth and foreign exchange gains linked to the appreciation of the Nigerian naira and Central African franc.
The company’s earnings per share (EPS) rose to 8.3 cents, compared with 0.8 cents last year — a nearly tenfold increase.
Operating profit climbed 35.9% to $959 million, while net cash from operating activities rose 41.8% to $1.39 billion.
Airtel also reported continued success in reducing foreign currency exposure, with 95% of its operating company debt now in local currency, up from 89% a year ago.
Leverage improved from 2.3x to 2.1x, with lease-adjusted leverage down to 0.8x, supported by stronger EBITDA performance.
Reflecting confidence in its long-term outlook, Airtel Africa has increased its capital expenditure guidance for FY2026 to between $875 million and $900 million to accelerate network expansion and digital growth.
The company also declared an interim dividend of 2.84 cents per share, up 9.2%, and reaffirmed that its $100 million share buyback programme remains on track for completion by March 2026.
Taldar concluded, “Our strategy has been centred on customer experience and digital innovation. The strong results demonstrate the scale of opportunity across our markets.
“With continued investment and execution discipline, we remain confident in delivering sustainable growth and long-term value for all stakeholders.”
