Airtel Africa has reported a strong first-quarter performance, driven by growth in data usage and mobile money adoption, across its 14 African markets.
Financial results for the period ended 30 June 2025, were released today, with the group reporting revenues of $1.4 billion, up 24.9% in constant currency from the same period last year.
The company credited easing currency headwinds, robust data and mobile money growth, and tariff adjustments in Nigeria, for the revenue acceleration. Mobile services revenue grew 23.8%, while data revenue leapt 38.1%, voice revenues were up 13.9% and mobile money revenue climbed 30.3%.
Growth also came in the size of its total customer base, which expanded 9% year-on-year to 169.4 million, and notably its data user base increased 17.4% to 75.6 million.
Airtel Africa also experienced a 47.4% year-on-year increase in data traffic for the same reporting period. Data average revenue per user (ARPU) grew 18.5% in constant currency, and rose to 7.8GB per customer per month, up from 6.2GB.
There was also a 4.3% rise in smartphone penetration, now at 45.9% of users. Among smartphone users, data usage reached 9.6GB per month, up from 8.0GB, in the prior period.
The group’s mobile money solution, Airtel Money, experienced growth with annualised transaction value increasing 35% to $162 billion, and a 16.1% increase in its user base to 45.8 million customers. Revenues from its mobile money offerings reached $290 million, up 30.3% (in constant currency), from Q1 2024.
Voice revenues also increased by 13.9%, in constant currency, to $533 million, up from $476 million in the same period last year.
Commenting on the results, Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar said the strong growth reflects “strong on-ground execution” with a focus on digitisation and simplification of customer experience.
He added: “With smartphone penetration at only 45.9%, we see significant headroom to drive further adoption and play a key role in bridging the digital divide.
“Mobile money remains a cornerstone of our current and future growth proposition.”
In terms of network investment, Airtel Africa has rolled out 2 300 new sites and 2 700 kms of fibre, and its 4G population coverage has reached 74.7%, up 3.4% from a year prior.
In May, the group announced a partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s LEO internet services to its African customers. To date, Airtel says, SpaceX has acquired licences in nine of the 14 countries in which Airtel operates, with the other five countries in process.
As part of a $100 million share buyback programme announced in December last year, Airtel Africa has returned $61.9 million to shareholders. The buyback programme is expected to conclude in November.
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