LAGOS-(MaraviPost)-The continent leading smartphone network provider Airtel Africa has registered significant customers growth by 9.0% to 169.4 million in the first quarter of 2025.
With the total customer base grew by 9.0% to 169.4 million, with data customers expanding 17.4% to 75.6 million. Airtel’s focus on digital inclusion also saw smartphone penetration rise by 4.3 percentage points to 45.9%, contributing to a 47.4% increase in data usage and 18.5% growth in data ARPU.
This is according to company’s results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, delivering strong operational and financial performance driven by growing demand for data and financial services, enhanced network expansion, and solid execution of its strategic priorities.
The report states that total revenue surged by 24.9% in constant currency (22.4% in reported currency) to $1.415 billion, buoyed by growth in mobile services and mobile money.
Data revenue jumped by 38.1%, while mobile money revenue increased 30.3%, both in constant currency.
Airtel Money continued to gain ground, with a 16.1% increase in users to 45.8 million and a 35% rise in annualised transaction value to $162 billion.
ARPU for mobile money services rose 11.3%, driven by a broadening range of use cases and increased transaction volumes.
“We are very pleased with the strong growth in our operating and financial performance in the first quarter. The strength of this performance, and the scale of the growth we achieved, reflects the sustained demand for our services and the strength of our business model to meet these demands,” said Sunil Taldar, Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer.
Taldar adds, “In terms of infrastructure, Airtel rolled out over 2,300 new sites, expanding total sites to 37,579, and extended its fibre network by 2,700 km to over 79,600 km, boosting 4G population coverage to 74.7%, up from 71.3% a year earlier.
“EBITDA rose by 29.8% to $679 million, with margins improving to 48.0% from 45.3%. The strong earnings growth, combined with easing fuel prices and cost efficiencies, helped lift profit after tax to $156 million, up from $31 million in the same period last year”.
Reads the report further, “Earnings per share (EPS) jumped to 3.4 cents, from 0.2 cents in Q1 2024, primarily due to improved operating profit and the absence of last year’s foreign exchange and derivative losses. Excluding exceptional items, EPS rose from 2.3 to 3.4 cents.
“Capital expenditure was $121 million, lower than the same period last year due to timing differences. The group reaffirmed its full-year capex guidance of $725 million to $750 million”.
Airtel also reported progress on its debt localisation strategy, with 95% of OpCo debt now in local currency, up from 86% a year ago. Leverage stood at 2.2x, an improvement from 2.3x at the end of Q4 FY2025, and lease-adjusted leverage remained flat at 0.9x.
Since initiating the second tranche of its $55 million share buyback programme, Airtel has repurchased 7.1 million shares worth $16.9 million as of June 30, 2025.
Taldar added that with the company’s balance sheet strength, continued network investment, and a sharp focus on customer experience, they are well-positioned to sustain growth and make a meaningful impact across the communities they serve.