Airtel Africa Plc reported that its revenues reached $1.415 million for the quarter ending June 2025, showing an increase of 24.9 percent in constant currency and 22.4 percent in reported currency, as currency challenges have gradually improved over the past three quarters.
As per the financial report filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), within the Group, revenue from mobile services increased by 23.8 percent in constant currency, fueled by a 13.9 percent rise in voice revenue and a 38.1 percent increase in data revenue. Mobile money earnings maintained a robust growth trend, recording a 30.3 percent rise in constant currency.
EBITDA increased by 29.8 percent in the reported currency, reaching $679 million, with EBITDA margins rising to 48.0 percent from 45.3 percent in the previous period. This improvement was fueled by ongoing operational growth, more stable fuel costs, and continued advantages from our cost efficiency initiatives.
A profit after tax of $156 million represented an improvement from $31 million in the previous period. The prior period was heavily affected by losses from derivatives and foreign exchange, mainly in Nigeria, whereas the current period saw a benefit of $22 million, primarily due to the appreciation of the Central African franc (CFA) during the quarter.
The company's overall customer base expanded by 9.0 percent, reaching 169.4 million, with data users rising by 17.4 percent to 75.6 million as the commitment to narrowing the digital gap in our markets remains strong. This, combined with a 4.3 percent rise in smartphone adoption to 45.9 percent, led to increased demand for data services, with data ARPU growing at an accelerated rate of 18.5 percent in constant currency1 as data consumption on our network surged by 47.4 percent.
Airtel Money remained a key driver in promoting financial inclusion, experiencing a 16.1 percent rise in users to 45.8 million. With the expansion of its applications, customers are more actively using various services, leading to a 35 percent growth in annual transaction value reaching $162 billion, along with an 11.3 percent increase in ARPU when adjusted for currency fluctuations.
Our commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience is supported by ongoing network development, including the installation of more than 2,300 new sites, bringing the total to 37,579 sites, and extending our fibre network by 2,700 km, now exceeding 79,600 km. This continued investment is enhancing data capacity throughout the region, with 4G coverage now reaching 74.7 percent—up 3.4 percent compared to the previous year.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE: Tinubu gives in to North-Central pressure as Yilwatda is elected APC national chairman
The Group reported a 23.8 percent increase in mobile services revenue in constant currency, fueled by a 13.9 percent rise in voice revenue and a 38.1 percent increase in data revenue. Mobile money revenues maintained a robust growth trend, recording a 30.3 percent growth in constant currency.
EBITDA increased by 29.8 percent in the reported currency, reaching $679 million, with EBITDA margins rising to 48.0 percent from 45.3 percent in the previous period, fueled by ongoing operational growth, more stable fuel costs, and continued advantages from our cost efficiency initiatives.
A profit after tax of $156 million represented an improvement from $31 million in the previous period. The prior period was heavily affected by derivative and foreign exchange losses, mainly in Nigeria, whereas the current period saw a benefit of $22 million, mostly due to the appreciation of the Central African franc (CFA) during the quarter.
Basic EPS of 3.4 cents is up from 0.2 cents in the previous period, mainly due to increased operational profit in the current period and losses from derivatives and foreign exchange in the prior period. EPS excluding extraordinary items rose from 2.3 cents in the previous period to 3.4 cents, as higher operating profits outweighed the effect of increased finance costs resulting from tower contract renewals carried out during the previous fiscal year.
Sunil Taldar, the chief executive officer, in the trading update stated, "We are highly satisfied with the robust growth in our operational and financial performance during the first quarter. The solid performance and the extent of growth we have achieved highlight the consistent demand for our services and the effectiveness of our business model in meeting these needs. Operationally, the increase in customer base growth to 9 percent, along with a 17.4 percent rise in data customers to 75.6 million, demonstrates strong on-ground execution with a continuous focus on digitization and simplifying the customer experience. Our strategy remains centered on enhancing the customer experience, as shown by the introduction of Airtel Spam Alert—an AI-based solution designed to improve trust and provide a safer network environment. This highlights our dedication to using technology to reduce obstacles to smartphone usage. With smartphone penetration at just 45.9 percent, there is considerable potential to boost adoption and play a vital role in closing the digital gap."
Mobile money continues to be a key element of our present and future growth strategy. As our user base nears 46 million and increases by more than 16 per cent, we recognize substantial opportunities to enhance financial inclusion through the ongoing development of our financial services. The expansion of our mobile money offerings and progress in enterprise and digital payments led to a 35 per cent increase in annualized transaction value, reaching $162 billion. We will keep concentrating on technology and the variety of products we provide to offer a unique experience for our customers.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).