Airtel Africa Sees Surge in Data Demand, Reports Robust Quarterly Growth

Airtel Africa has announced impressive financial and operational results for the latest quarter, showcasing a significant boost in data-driven services. The telecommunications giant witnessed an 11% rise in its customer base to 173.8 million, alongside an 18.4% increase in data users to 78.1 million.

The quarterly financial report highlights a 46.8% penetration in smartphone usage, which catalyzed a 45% surge in data traffic and a 16.8% growth in average revenue per user (ARPU) in constant currency. Airtel Money also sustained its growth, with a 20% expansion in its customer base to a total of 49.8 million. The annualized processed value for Q2'26 surpassed USD 193 billion, marking a 35.9% increase.

Continued investment in network infrastructure saw the deployment of over 2,350 new sites, totaling 38,300, and an additional 4,000 km of fiber to extend coverage. With 4G now available at 98.5% of sites, revenue increased by 24.5% in constant currency to USD 2.98 billion. The company attributed this growth to robust performance in Nigeria and Francophone Africa, with data revenue reaching USD 1.16 billion. EBITDA rose by 33.2% to USD 1.45 billion, enhancing profit margins. CEO Sunil Taldar emphasized the ongoing digital innovation and strategic focus on improving customer experience as key drivers of success.