Airtel Africa Plc plans to spend about $1.1 billion on capital expenditure in the financial year ending March 2027, extending its investment programme after spending $884 million in the previous year as demand for mobile data grows across its 14 African markets.
The planned expenditure would represent a further increase from the year ended March 2026, when capital spending rose 31.9% from $670 million in the previous financial year. Airtel Africa spent $737 million in the year ended March 2024 and $748 million in the year ended March 2023, according to its annual reports.
The figures cover total capital expenditure rather than spending exclusively on telecommunications networks. The company’s investment programme also supports home broadband, data centres and other infrastructure required to expand its digital services.
The spending comes as telecom operators across Africa invest in network capacity and coverage to accommodate rising data consumption, improve service reliability and reach communities beyond major urban centres.
Airtel Africa added more than 3,250 network sites and approximately 3,200 kilometres of fibre during the year ended March 2026, taking its fibre footprint to about 81,900 kilometres, according to the company.
The additional infrastructure is intended to improve network capacity and connectivity for customers increasingly dependent on mobile services for communication, business transactions and digital financial services.
Airtel Africa is also pursuing satellite connectivity to reach remote communities where building conventional mobile infrastructure can be costly or difficult. In December 2025, the company announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology across its markets, with the aim of connecting compatible mobile devices in areas beyond terrestrial network coverage.
Alongside infrastructure expansion, the operator is deploying digital tools to improve customer experience and security. Its AI-powered Spam Alert service identifies suspected unwanted text messages and provides subscribers with real-time notifications.
The investment programme comes as telecommunications operators seek to balance network expansion with the cost of maintaining infrastructure and delivering affordable services in markets with different levels of connectivity and purchasing power.
Airtel Africa’s planned $1.1 billion capital expenditure for the year ending March 2027 signals a further increase in investment. However, the company has not disclosed how much of the budget will be allocated exclusively to mobile network infrastructure.
The pace of infrastructure deployment and improvements in network performance will be key measures of whether the additional spending translates into better coverage and service quality for Airtel Africa’s customers.
