The news
- Airtel Africa reported a $376m profit, up from $79m in H1 2024
- A $90m forex gain, driven by naira and CFA appreciation, boosted results
- Revenue rose 24.5% in constant currency, led by data and mobile money growth
- The company declared an interim dividend of 2.84 cents per share
Airtel Africa has posted a strong rebound in profit for the half-year ended September 30, 2025, buoyed by favourable currency movements in its key markets. The company reported a $376 million profit after tax, up sharply from $79 million in the same period last year.
The turnaround was driven largely by a $90 million foreign exchange gain, a reversal from the heavy losses reported in the prior period. The gain stemmed from the appreciation of the Nigerian naira during the second quarter and the Central African franc in the first quarter of the financial year.
Nigeria, the group’s largest market, contributed significantly to the improved earnings. Last year, the company took a substantial hit from derivative and foreign exchange losses related to the naira’s devaluation. This year’s gain provided much-needed relief, boosting group-wide results.
In constant currency terms, Airtel Africa’s revenue grew 24.5%, supported by double-digit increases in all reporting segments. Data revenue rose 37.0% while mobile money revenue surged 30.2%, reflecting ongoing demand for digital services across its 14 African markets.
Total customer base grew 11.0% year-on-year to 173.8 million, with mobile money users up 20% ahead of its planned public listing in 2026. The company also recorded growth in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) across data and voice services.
Despite ongoing currency volatility risks in Africa, Airtel Africa increased its interim dividend by 9.2% to 2.84 cents per share.
Mobile money and data services continue to be the highlight of Airtel Africa’s growth, evidenced by growth momentum from previous periods. The company remains focused on expanding its digital and mobile money services while investing in network infrastructure to support subscriber growth.
The strong H1 2025 performance reinforces Airtel Africa’s ability to weather macroeconomic volatility while expanding its digital and financial services footprint across the continent.
