The news
- Airtel Africa sets a new target to list Airtel Money in H1 2026, a delay from the earlier 2025 timeline.
- Mobile money unit saw transaction value jump 33.3% in 2024 to $146 billion.
- Customer base climbed to 44.3 million users across 14 African markets.
Airtel Africa Plc. plans to take its mobile money arm public in the first half of 2026, citing “evolving market conditions” for postponing an earlier timeline set for 2025. The decision comes as the fintech subsidiary continues to grow across key African markets, underscoring a broader push for financial inclusion on the continent.
“We are making significant progress in our preparations for the Airtel Money IPO and remain committed to this objective,” said Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar in a statement. “However, we are also mindful of evolving market conditions. Therefore, subject to these conditions, we anticipate a listing event in the first half of calendar year 2026.”
Airtel Money operates in 14 African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2024, the service recorded a 33.3% year-on-year increase in transaction value, reaching an annualised total of $146 billion. Its user base also rose by 18.3%, totalling 44.3 million customers.
The IPO is expected to unlock shareholder value and attract new investments, helping the company scale its digital financial infrastructure. Airtel Money has become one of the telecoms group’s key growth engines as demand for mobile financial services grows amid underbanked populations across sub-Saharan Africa.
But the announcement comes as the company faces regulatory scrutiny. Authorities in Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi have launched investigations following consumer complaints about opaque pricing and currency conversion disclosures. In January 2025, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission initiated a probe into Airtel Money’s pricing practices.
“The alleged conduct is considered misleading and unconscionable as it denies consumers the right to material information required to make informed decisions,” the Commission said in a statement (PDF).
The delayed IPO mirrors the cautious approach seen among African fintech firms amid global market volatility. It also reflects heightened oversight, a signal that maturing digital financial services in the region must now contend with both scaling demands and compliance expectations.
As the race for financial inclusion intensifies, Airtel Money’s public debut could serve as a bellwether for how African telcos reposition themselves as serious players in the fintech space — particularly in high-growth economies like Nigeria, where regulatory reforms have recently allowed players like MTN to secure full mobile money licences and scale wallet services.
