Airtel Africa Plc reported a 27% increase in quarterly profit as strong growth in mobile data and digital financial services boosted earnings, while the company reaffirmed plans to list its fast-growing Airtel Money business in London later this year.
Profit after tax for the quarter ended June 30 rose to $198 million from $156 million a year earlier, despite a $37 million exceptional finance charge related to the settlement of a commercial dispute and foreign exchange losses during the period. Basic earnings per share increased to 4.4 cents from 3.4 cents, while earnings before exceptional items climbed to 5.4 cents.
Revenue increased 31% to $1.85 billion, supported by constant-currency growth of 21.1%. EBITDA rose 36.6% to $928 million, with the EBITDA margin improving to 50.1%.
Airtel Africa also confirmed that London remains its preferred listing venue for the planned Airtel Money IPO in 2026, saying the listing is expected to provide access to a broader international investor base and unlock the long-term value of one of Africa’s largest fintech platforms.
Airtel Money continued to deliver strong growth during the quarter, with its customer base expanding 23.3% to 56.5 million. Annualized transaction value surpassed $245 billion, a 51.5% increase from a year earlier, reflecting growing adoption of digital payments across Airtel Africa’s markets.
Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said the company continues to invest in digital platforms, artificial intelligence and network infrastructure to improve customer experience and support long-term growth, while Airtel Money remains a key pillar of its strategy.
The company ended the quarter with 189 million customers across its 14 African markets, while smartphone penetration reached 51%, helping drive a 56.3% increase in data traffic.
Airtel also accelerated network investment during the quarter, spending $389 million on capital expenditure, deploying more than 920 new sites and expanding its fiber network to 82,100 kilometers as it prepares for future demand across the continent.
