Airtel Africa Profit Jumps to $156M on Data, Mobile Money Growth
TLDR
- Airtel Africa reported a 22% year-on-year increase in revenue to $1.42 billion in Q2 2025, driven by strong data and voice performance
- The surge reflects strong growth in data usage, mobile money services, and continued customer acquisition across its 14 markets
- EBITDA grew 29.8% to $679 million, lifting the margin to 48.0%. Gains were supported by cost optimisation and FX gains
Airtel Africa Plc reported a sharp rise in profit after tax to $156 million in Q2 2025, up from $31 million in the same period last year. The surge reflects strong growth in data usage, mobile money services, and continued customer acquisition across its 14 markets.
Revenue rose 24.9% in constant currency to $1.415 billion, with voice revenue growing 13.9% and data revenue up 38.1%. Data customers increased 17.4% to 75.6 million, while smartphone penetration rose to 45.9%, helping push data usage up 47.4% year-on-year.
Airtel Money added 6.3 million users to reach 45.8 million, with annualised transaction value hitting $162 billion, up 35%. ARPU increased by 11.3%.
EBITDA grew 29.8% to $679 million, lifting the margin to 48.0%. Gains were supported by cost optimisation and FX gains, including a $22 million boost from the appreciation of the Central African franc. EPS rose to 3.4 cents from 0.2 cents a year ago.
Capital expenditure fell to $121 million, though full-year guidance remains at $725–$750 million. Airtel added 2,300 network sites, expanding 4G coverage to 74.7%.
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Key Takeaways
Airtel Africa’s Q2 2025 results highlight how mobile data and financial services are reshaping telecom growth in sub-Saharan Africa. With smartphone penetration still under 50%, the company sees strong future demand for data services, especially in underserved rural and peri-urban regions. Mobile money remains a core driver, as users adopt services beyond person-to-person transfers, including bill payments, merchant transactions, and cross-border remittances. Airtel Money’s $162 billion in annualised transaction value shows the scale of digital financial inclusion across its markets. Network expansion is central to this strategy. With 37,579 sites and over 79,600 km of fibre deployed, Airtel is pushing infrastructure deeper into rural areas while maintaining capital discipline. The Group’s push to localise debt—now 95% in local currency—helps reduce FX risk, even as gross leverage rose due to tower lease renewals. By combining cost control, digital platform expansion, and targeted investment, Airtel is positioning itself as both a telco and fintech leader in Africa’s digital economy.
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