Overview:
Robust data usage and smartphone adoption propel Airtel Africa profits to $586 million for the nine-month period ending Dec. 31, 2025, supported by significant infrastructure investment.
Airtel Africa plc reported a surge in basic earnings per share to 13.1 cents for the nine-month period ending Dec. 31, 2025, a significant climb from 4.4 cents in the prior year, fueled by robust data usage and increasing smartphone adoption.
The company announced Friday that data revenues, the largest contributor to group earnings, grew by 36.5%. This growth was supported by a 14.6% increase in data customers, now totaling 81.8 million, and a rise in smartphone penetration to 48.1% across its markets.
Enhanced network investment led to a rise in data usage per customer, which reached 8.6GB per month compared to 6.9GB in the previous period. Average revenue per user for data grew 16.6% in constant currency.
Airtel Africa’s total revenue for the period rose to $4.667 billion, a 28.3% increase in reported currency. Profit after tax reached $586 million, up from $248 million, aided by higher operating profits and $99 million in derivative and foreign exchange gains.
Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of Airtel Africa, said the results highlight the strength of the company’s strategy to capture growth opportunities through technology innovation and infrastructure.
“Smartphone adoption continues to increase with penetration of 48.1%, and we are seeing solid progress in the development of our home broadband business,” Taldar said.
The company’s mobile money segment also contributed to the financial performance. Airtel Money exceeded 52 million customers, a 17.3% increase, with the annualized total processed value surpassing $210 billion. Taldar confirmed the company remains on track to list Airtel Money in the first half of 2026.
To support this growth, Airtel Africa increased capital expenditure by 32.2% to $603 million. The investment funded approximately 2,500 new sites and the expansion of the fiber network by 4,000 kilometers, bringing the total fiber footprint to more than 81,500 kilometers.
Overall population coverage for the provider, which operates in 14 sub-Saharan African countries, has reached 81.7%.