TUE OCT 28 2025-theGBJournal| Airtel Africa plc on Tuesday reported strong half year result that demonstrated customer sustained demand and continued execution of its strategy.
”Our strategy has been focussed on providing a superior customer experience and the strength of these results is testament to the initiatives that we have been implementing across the business,” said Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer, on the trading update.
”Digital innovation is a core focus, and we’re pleased to see the growing adoption of MyAirtel app as we seek to deepen customer engagement and simplify the customer journey.”
Airtel’s revenue rose 24.5% to US$2,982 million in constant currency and 25.8% in reported currency as currency appreciation benefitted reported currency performance.
Across the Group, mobile services revenue grew by 23.1% in constant currency, driven by voice revenue growth of 13.2% and data revenue growth of 37.0%. Data revenues of $1,161m has now surpassed voice as the biggest component of revenue for the Group.
Mobile money revenues continue to benefit from its increased scale and higher levels of engagement to deliver a 30.2% growth in constant currency.
Airtel’s EBITDA grew by 33.2% in reported currency to $1,447 million with EBITDA margins expanding further to 48.5% from 45.8% in the prior period driven by continued operating momentum and sustained benefits from our cost efficiency programme.
Q2’26 EBITDA margins reached 49.0%, up from 46.4% in the prior year.
”The strength of our revenue performance – up 24.5% in constant currency-and further cost efficiency initiatives has continued to support a further increase in EBITDA margins to 49% in Q2’26, and we‘ll continue to focus on further incremental margin improvements, subject to macroeconomic stability,” Sunil Taldar.
Meanwhile, profit after tax of $376 million improved from $79 million in the prior period.
Airtel acknowledged that the prior period was significantly impacted by derivative and foreign exchange losses, primarily in Nigeria, while the current period benefitted from a $90 million gain largely arising from Nigerian naira appreciation during the current quarter (Q2’26) and the Central African franc (CFA) appreciation during the previous quarter (Q1’26).
Basic EPS came in at 8.3 cents when compared to 0.8 cents in prior period, predominantly reflecting the growth in operating profit and derivative and foreign exchange gains in the current period compared to losses in the prior period.
EPS before exceptional items increased from 4.9 cents in the prior period to 8.3 cents, largely reflecting the increased operating profits and derivative and foreign exchange gains in the current period.
Capex of $318 million was in-line with the prior period.
Capex guidance for FY’26 has been increased to between $875 million and $900 million as Airtel look to accelerate its ability to capitalise on the significant opportunity across its markets.
CEO Taldar believes this strong performance gives the company the confidence
to increase its capex guidance for this financial year to between $875 million and $900 million, as ”we accelerate our investments to capture the full potential across our markets and deliver long-term value for all stakeholders.”
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