Airtel Africa Plc has delivered a blockbuster performance for the fiscal period ending December 2025, reporting a massive 136.60% surge in net profit as the telecom giant successfully navigated currency headwinds to expand its footprint across the continent.
The Lagos and London-listed operator saw its total customer base swell to 179.40 million, cementing its position as a dominant force in the African digital economy.
Results for nine-month period ended 31 December 2025 showed profit after tax (PAT) surged by 136.60 percent to $586 million from $248 million as at nine months December 2024 .
With increased network investment, digitisation and innovative new partnerships as well as aggressive investment, total customer base increased by 10 percent to 179.4 million, with data customers of 81.8 million, growing 14.6 percent.
Smartphone penetration rose another 3.9 percent to 48.1 percent, with data ARPU growing by 16.6 percent in constant currency1 as data usage per customer increased to 8.6GB per month from 6.9GB in the prior period, facilitated by the enhanced network investment.
Revenue for Airtel Africa was up 28.30 percent to $4.66 billion as at nine months to December 2025, from $3.63 billion the previous year. The revenue growth was supported by tariff adjustments driving a 50.6 percent growth in Nigeria and a strong performance in Francophone Africa, which saw revenues accelerate to 17.0 percent in the nine-month period.
Driven by the strong revenue growth and sustained benefits from the Airtel Africa’s cost efficiency programme, earnings before interest taxation depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin rose to 48.90 percent in the period under review from 46.20 percent in the nine months ended December 2024.
Given the significant opportunity across its markets, Airtel Africa has accelerated its investment in-line with its revised capex guidance as previously communicated as capital expenditure (CAPEX) increased to $603 million in the period under review from $456 million the previous year.
“These results highlight the strength of our strategy, with strong operating and financial trends across the business. During the quarter, we accelerated investment to enhance coverage and data capacity while also expanding our fibre network. Coupling this investment with innovative partnerships, strengthens our customer proposition and positions us to capture the considerable growth opportunity across our markets,” said Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer, Airtel Africa.
“Digitisation, technology innovation and embedding AI in our processes will also optimise the customer experience with increased digital offerings and closer integration of GSM and Airtel Money services allowing us to unlock the strong demand across our markets,” summed Talder.
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