Telecoms giant Airtel Africa has posted a strong financial recovery, recording a pre-tax profit of $661 million for the full financial year ending March 31, 2025. This marks a dramatic turnaround from the previous year’s pre-tax loss of $63 million, and represents a staggering year-on-year growth of 1,147.8 percent in reported currency—a signal of renewed investor confidence and operational resilience.
According to the company’s audited financial results, profit after tax also rebounded significantly to $328 million, a stark contrast to the $89 million loss recorded in the 2024 financial year. The earlier loss had been largely attributed to heavy foreign exchange and derivative losses, with Nigeria playing a central role in the financial downturn due to steep currency pressures at the time.
Revenue for the year reached $4.96 billion. Although that reflects a marginal decline of 0.5 percent in reported currency terms due to the impact of currency devaluation across key markets, the company saw a robust 21.1 percent growth when measured in constant currency. The final quarter of the fiscal year proved especially fruitful, with Q4 2025 revenue growing by 23.2 percent in constant currency and 17.8 percent in reported currency—driven largely by tariff adjustments and easing monetary pressures in Nigeria.
Commenting on the company’s performance, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Mr. Sunil Taldar, described the rebound as the product of strategic focus, targeted investment, and renewed commitment to enhancing both digital and financial inclusion across the continent. He noted that Airtel’s reinvigorated operational approach had supported key investments in network infrastructure, while also enhancing digital platforms and customer experiences.
“We have reported another strong operating performance as our strategy continues to deliver against the significant opportunity that exists across our markets,” said Taldar. “Our ongoing investments have enabled increased digital inclusion, with smartphone penetration rising by 20 percent to 74.4 million customers. This contributed to a 47.5 percent increase in data traffic over the financial year.”
Airtel’s mobile money arm, Airtel Money, also delivered impressive figures, reflecting the company’s growing role in advancing financial inclusion. The number of customers using Airtel Money grew by 17.3 percent to 44.6 million, while the total transaction value soared to $136 billion—a 32 percent increase in constant currency terms.
Taldar further attributed the company’s improved performance to an increasingly favourable operating environment, especially in key markets like Nigeria. “The Nigerian tariff adjustments helped spur revenue growth in the fourth quarter, which combined with our cost optimisation programme, supported a steady expansion in our quarterly EBITDA margin throughout the year,” he added.
With momentum clearly on its side, Airtel Africa’s latest financial report signals a strong comeback narrative, driven by strategic clarity, deeper market engagement, and a firm grasp of the shifting economic landscape across its diverse African operations.
