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By  Osasómé C.O and  Nana Theresa Timothy

Airtel Africa has reported a net profit of $328 million for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, marking a significant turnaround from a $89 million loss the previous year. This comeback was achieved despite continued pressure from currency devaluation, especially in Nigeria, and derivative losses that affected earnings.

RELATED: Airtel Africa adds 3,000 new sites and 5,600 km fibre to boost data capacity

The company’s performance was powered by strong growth in mobile subscribers, data usage, and mobile money services across its African markets.

Data and Mobile Subscriber Growth Drive Performance

Total customer base grew by 8.7% year-over-year to 166.1 million, with smartphone penetration rising by 4.3 percentage points to 44.8%.

Notably:

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  • Data customers surged 14.1% to 73.4 million
  • Data usage per customer increased by 30.4% to 7GB
  • Data ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) rose by 15.4% in constant currency
    These figures underscore Airtel’s expanding role in Africa’s data consumption boom and increased digital service adoption.

Mobile Money Usage Surges to $145 Billion in Transactions

Airtel Money, the company’s mobile money platform, continued its rapid growth:

  • Subscriber base rose 17.3% to 44.6 million
  • Mobile money ARPU grew 11.4% in constant currency
  • Annualized transaction value reached $145 billion, reflecting 34% growth

This growth reinforces the rising role of fintech services in Africa’s digital economy, particularly in underserved financial markets.

Revenue Impacted by FX Losses but Constant Currency Growth Strong

While reported revenue fell 0.5% year-over-year to $4.96 billion, constant currency growth was 21.1%—highlighting the underlying strength of Airtel’s core operations.

The company’s Q4 growth was particularly strong, driven by:

  • Tariff adjustments in Nigeria
  • Improving macroeconomic stability

EBITDA and CapEx Trends

  • EBITDA dropped by 5.1% to $2.3 billion, with margins narrowing to 46.5%, down from 48.8% last year
  • Capital expenditure (CapEx) reached $670 million, below forecast due to deferred data centre investment

Looking forward, Airtel Africa plans to invest between $725 million and $750 million in FY2026, reflecting continued commitment to network expansion and data infrastructure.

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Operational Highlights: Network Expansion Across Africa

In FY2025, Airtel Africa:

  • Deployed 2,583 new mobile sites
  • Rolled out approximately 3,300 km of fibre
    These infrastructure investments are aimed at improving connectivity and service quality across its markets.

Airtel Focuses on Growth Despite Volatile FX Landscape

Despite macroeconomic headwinds and continued pressure from foreign exchange volatility, Airtel Africa’s FY2025 results reveal a resilient, data-driven business poised for further growth. With strong fundamentals in mobile money, data services, and network investments, the company is laying the groundwork for future profitability.

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