Total Customer Base Increase To 179.4 Million At Airtel Africa, Thanks To A Customer-Centric Strategy
In business & social circles throughout the world, customers are often very sensitive to how businesses, private & public & social institutions and even diverse leaders treat them. Bad treatment from such spaces may lead to scepticism and apathy and businesses especially suffer if the customers’ reactions lead to low sales or even boycott of products. Essentially therefore, all customers must be treated with respect and dignity and their feedback including concerns and compliments be considered. Organizations, institutions and companies that pay heed to customers’ needs and concerns embrace this unique and advantageous customer-centric strategy.
At Airtel Africa, this business strategy and secret to better business & customer base growth has been upheld over time. By the period ending in December 31st, 2025 the company’s total customer base number had increased by 10 per cent to 179.4 million. The growth was credited to a customer-centric strategy that continues to underpin strong operating momentum. The momentum is evident in increased network investment, digitization, and new innovative partnerships all a testimony of tangible progress in the company’s commitment to delivering its strategic priorities.
According to a report released in Nairobi, Kenya on January 30th 2026, the Group’s K sh 602,048 million (M) ($4,667M) revenues increased by 24.6 per cent in constant currency and 28.3 per cent in reported currency as currency appreciation supported the strong underlying fundamentals of the business. The strong execution of the Group’s strategy delivered constant-currency revenue growth of 24.7 per cent in Q3’25, further supported by currency appreciation and resulting in 32.9 per cent reported currency revenue growth.
The profit after tax of K sh 75,594 M ($586M) improved from k sh 31992 M ($248M) in the previous period. Higher profit after tax in the current period was driven by higher operating profit and derivative and foreign exchange gains of K Sh 12,771 M ($99M), as compared to K sh 19,737 M ($153M) derivative and foreign exchange losses in the prior period.
Mobile services revenue grew by 23.3 per cent in constant currency. Data revenues, the largest contributor to the Group’s revenues, increased 36.5 per cent with voice revenues growing by 13.5 per cent. Mobile money revenues continue to benefit from the strong operating momentum to deliver 29.4 per cent growth in constant currency.
East Africa revenue grew by 18.2 per cent in reported currency to K sh 208,335 ($1,615M) and by 14.4 per cent in constant currency. Higher reported currency revenue growth as compared to constant currency was primarily due to appreciation in the Zambian kwacha, Ugandan and Tanzanian shillings. The constant currency growth was made up of voice revenue growth of 13.7 per cent and data revenue growth of 18.0 per cent.
Voice revenue growth was supported by customer base growth of 9.5 per cent and voice ARPU growth of 3.1 per cent. The customer base growth was largely driven by the expansion of both increased network coverage and the increasing scale of the distribution network.
Data customer base growth of 15.9 per cent and data usage growth of 48.1 per cent were the primary drivers of the data revenue growth during the period. The company continues to invest in the network and expansion of its 4G and 5G networks in the region. Over 2,000 sites are 5G-enabled across four key markets. Data usage per customer increased to 7.6 GB per customer per month, up by 25.3 per cent, with smartphone penetration increasing 3.6 per cent to reach 45.2 per cent. Smartphone data usage per customer reached 9.4 GB per month compared to 7.6 GB per month in the prior period.
Airtel Africa Group CEO Sunil Tadar celebrated the results explaining that they have highlighted strength in the company’s strategy especially with strong operating and financial trends across the business. “During the 2025 last quarter, for instance, 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 now considerable growth opportunity across our markets. Digitization, 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,” Tadar asserted. He revealed that Smartphone adoption continued to increase as seen in a penetration rate of 48.1 per cent. “We have realized solid progress in the development of our home broadband business which is a strong indicator of the need for reliable, high-speed connectivity across our markets,” he added.
He asserted that Airtel Group’s push to enhance financial inclusion across Africa continues to gain momentum with its Mobile Money customer base expanding to 52 million, surpassing the previous 50 million attainment. Annualised total processed value of over $210bn in Q3’26 underscores the depth of the Group’s merchants, agents, and partner ecosystem, and remains a key player in driving improved access to financial services across Africa. “We remain committed to the listing of Airtel Money in the first half of 2026,” Tadar affirmed.
Disciplined execution on cost efficiency as well as accelerating revenue growth, has enabled another sequential improvement in the Group’s quarterly EBITDA margin to 49.6 per cent, underpinning constant currency EBITDA growth of 31 per cent.
“We remain focused on driving further incremental margin improvements and our strategic priorities remain clear and these include: –to keep investing in best-in-class connectivity; accelerating financial inclusion through our mobile money platform, and delivering a great customer experience. These results reinforce our confidence in the long-term potential of our markets and our ability to create value for all our stakeholders,” Tadar further affirmed.
