Airtel Africa

What Airtel Africa does

Airtel Africa plc is a UK-incorporated, London-listed (LSE:AAF) telecommunications and mobile money operator serving 183.5 million customers across 14 sub-Saharan African markets, covering a combined population of 635 million (Nigeria, Kenya, DRC, Tanzania, Uganda, Niger, Gabon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Seychelles). The Group operates a platform-plus-modules architecture: a pan-African mobile network with 4G in all 14 markets and 5G in five markets, supported by 40,378+ network sites (26.5% fibre-connected) and 81.9% population coverage; Airtel Money, a 54.1 million-customer mobile money platform processing $196bn of transaction value in FY26 through 2.4 million agents; Nxtra by Airtel Africa, a hyperscale data centre business with 38 MW Lagos and 44 MW Kenya facilities under construction; Telesonic, a wholesale terrestrial fibre and subsea cable business; and Airtel Business, an enterprise ICT unit delivering SD-WAN, MPLS, cloud and managed connectivity to corporates, governments and NGOs. Revenue in FY26 (year ended 31 March 2026) was $6.4bn (+29.5% YoY), with profit of $813m and free cash flow of $803m, of which Airtel Money contributed $1,355m at 28.4% constant-currency growth. The business is majority-owned by Bharti Airtel Limited (India), which raised its stake to ~79% in June 2026 via a $2.9bn share swap, and is preparing Airtel Money for a standalone London IPO in H2 2026.

Name

Airtel Africa

Legal name

Airtel Africa plc

Website

https://airtel.africa

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Airtel Africa plc is a London-listed telecom and mobile money operator serving 183.5 million customers across 14 sub-Saharan African markets via 4G/5G networks, Airtel Money, Nxtra data centres, Telesonic fibre, and Airtel Business enterprise services; majority-owned by Bharti Airtel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Mobile Operators (HDAIAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mobile Roaming & Interconnect Services (roaming hubs, IREG/TADIG, clearing) (HDAIAEAE), Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money (FSAMAEAD), International Bill Pay & Cross-Border Airtime/Top-Up (FSAGAKAM), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAE)

Keywords

• Mobile telecommunications services
• Mobile money payments
• Enterprise connectivity solutions
• Data centre services
• Wholesale fibre infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar Es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mobile voice services: Pre-paid and post-paid wireless voice, international roaming and fixed-line telephony services generating 601 billion minutes of voice traffic in 2025/26 (+5.3%), with 287 minutes usage per customer per month.
2. Mobile data services: Data services across 4G, 5G, home broadband, fibre and data centres, with 84.2 million data customers (+14.8%) and 10.9 GB data usage per customer per month, 8,414 billion GB total data usage in 2025/26.
3. Airtel Money mobile money: Transaction-fee based mobile money business with 54.1 million customers and 2.4 million active agents; processed $196bn in transaction value in 2025/26 and generated $1,355m revenue (+28.4% in constant currency). ARPU of $3.1 and $332 transaction value per customer per month.
4. Enterprise / Airtel Business: B2B ICT services to corporates, governments, NGOs, UN and diplomatic missions, SMEs and carriers, including business mobility, fixed connectivity (SD-WAN, MPLS, IPLC), cloud and data centre, convergence/collaboration, and electronic payment acceptance via Airtel Money.
5. Nxtra by Airtel Africa data centres: Hyperscale and edge data centre services in Africa (colocation, bespoke solutions, migration, 24/7 customer support, interconnectivity); long-term partner for hyperscalers, enterprises, SMEs, startups and governments, with 38 MW Lagos and 44 MW Kenya facilities under construction.
6. Handset/device sales and device financing partnerships: Smartphone retail and bundling (e.g., Airtel's 4G smartphones in Rwanda), in partnership with handset manufacturers and financing firms such as Mogo and Transsion (Tecno, Infinix, Itel) and Airtel Uganda.
7. Telesonic wholesale fibre and subsea capacity: Wholesale terrestrial fibre and subsea cable services to carriers and large enterprises, leveraging Airtel Africa's fibre footprint and Telesonic infrastructure.
8. Advertising and Airtel Ads: Airtel Ads platform (launched February 2024) to help African businesses achieve effective and enhanced advertising reach via Airtel Africa's owned media inventory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Airtel Africa provides mobile voice and data services, mobile money financial services (Airtel Money), enterprise ICT and connectivity (Airtel Business), hyperscale data centre services (Nxtra by Airtel Africa) and wholesale fibre capacity (Telesonic) across 14 sub-Saharan African markets. The company owns and operates 40,378+ network sites covering 81.9% of the population with 4G in all markets and 5G in five markets.

Product overview

Airtel Africa operates a platform-plus-modules architecture spanning consumer mobile services, mobile money, enterprise services, data centres, fibre infrastructure, and digital advertising. The core mobile platform provides voice, data (4G/5G), and home broadband services across 14 African OpCos. Layered on top of this core are modular offerings: Airtel Money (mobile financial services with Mastercard, Flutterwave, MoneyGram, Western Union, WorldRemit, and Mukuru integrations), Airtel Business (enterprise services including a Cisco-powered Network-as-a-Service offering), Nxtra by Airtel Africa (data centre and colocation services launched December 2023), Airtel Africa Telesonic Limited (terrestrial fibre infrastructure launched February 2024), Airtel Ads (digital advertising platform launched February 2024), Voice Africa, and SmartCash Payment Service Bank. The portfolio combines consumer connectivity, mobile money, enterprise services, data centre infrastructure, fibre, and advertising into a unified telecom and digital services group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airtel Money: Dedicated mobile money platform offering digital wallet payment systems, microloans, merchant services, savings, insurance and international money transfers; operates across 14 OpCos with 54.1 million customers and $196bn in transaction processed value in 2025/26. Planned London Stock Exchange IPO in H2 2026.
• Nxtra by Airtel Africa
• Airtel Business
• Airtel Africa Telesonic

Products and services

• Mobile Voice Services Pre-paid and post-paid wireless voice services, international roaming and fixed-line telephony services for consumers and businesses across 14 sub-Saharan African markets.
• Mobile Data Services Mobile data services across 4G, 5G, home broadband, fibre and data centres for individual and business customers; 84.2m data customers and 8,414bn GB total usage in FY26.
• Airtel Money Mobile money platform offering digital wallets, microloans, merchant payments, savings, insurance, international money transfers and Airtel Money Mastercard virtual card-to-wallet for 54.1m customers in 14 African markets.
• Airtel Business (Enterprise ICT) End-to-end enterprise communications solutions including business mobility, fixed connectivity (SD-WAN, MPLS, IPLC), cloud and data centre services, convergence and collaboration, and electronic payment acceptance for global businesses, multinationals, governments, NGOs, UN and diplomatic missions.
• Nxtra by Airtel Africa Data Centres Hyperscale and edge data centre services (colocation, bespoke solutions, migration, 24/7 customer support, interconnectivity) for hyperscalers, enterprises, SMEs, start-ups and governments across Africa.
• Telesonic Fibre Infrastructure Wholesale terrestrial fibre and subsea cable capacity services to carriers and large enterprises leveraging Airtel Africa's fibre footprint; includes collaboration with ASN to light the 2Africa subsea cable.
• Airtel Ads Digital advertising platform enabling advertisers to reach Airtel Africa's customer base across 14 African markets via owned media inventory.
• Airtel 4G Smartphone (Rwanda) Affordable Airtel-branded 4G smartphone offered in Rwanda in partnership with handset manufacturers, bundled with data and voice plans to drive mobile internet adoption.
• SmartCash Payment Service Bank Licensed payment service bank in Nigeria offering specialised financial services distribution to extend financial inclusion via a regulated banking channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• FY26 revenue of $6.4bn (+29.5% YoY); profit $813m (+147.4% YoY)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SpaceX (Starlink)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to launch Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity across all 14 Airtel Africa markets, successfully piloted in Kenya (March 2026) and approved in Uganda (May 2026).
• NokiacoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Airtel Africa Telesonic to build a high-capacity terrestrial fibre network spanning East and Central Africa.
• Network International (Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationEngaged by Airtel Africa in June 2024 for payments processing.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership (February 2024) on Network-as-a-Service offering for secure business connectivity in Africa; earlier Airtel Business partnership with Cisco (November 2021).
• MTN GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork sharing agreement in Uganda and Nigeria (March 2025), and broader Africa Group of Six coalition (with Vodacom, Orange, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom) representing 60-65% of Africa's mobile subscribers.
• VodacomflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned network infrastructure sharing agreement (August 2025) to drive digital inclusion; also members of the African Group of Six coalition.
• American Tower Corporation (ATC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRenewed tower lease agreements on 30 September 2024 for ~7,100 sites across Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Niger for 12 years, with focus on renewable energy solutions (1,073 green sites as of 31 March 2024).
• UNICEFflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark partnership providing children with free access to zero-rated educational content and connectivity in 13 of 14 markets, supporting 2.1 million schoolchildren and 3,296 schools connected since launch; reaffirmed April 2023.
• World Bank Group, African Development Bank and The Rockefeller Foundation (Mission 300)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined the Mission 300 Private Sector Council in April 2026 to support the goal of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, alongside IFC and MIGA $5bn commitment.
• Xtelify (Airtel India's digital arm)coreTechnology or IntegrationMulti-year strategic partnership signed August 2025 to bring Airtel India's digital platform capabilities to Airtel Africa.
• Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration (June 2024) to light the 2Africa subsea cable.
• Western UnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationCross-border remittance partnership (January 2020) into Airtel Money wallets.
• MoneyGramcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational money transfer partnership (August 2020).
• FlutterwavecoreTechnology or IntegrationAirtel Money Flutterwave partnership (October 2021) for payment integrations.
• SmartCash Payment Service Bank LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayment service bank commenced operations in Nigeria in May 2022, extending Airtel Africa's financial services distribution.
• Joint Audit Cooperation (JAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined JAC in April 2022 to promote sustainability in supply chain.
• New World TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNovember 2022 partnership to bring the FIFA World Cup to Africa via Airtel platforms.
• MogocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with Airtel Uganda to finance over 500,000 smartphones within 14 months (June 2026), bundled with Transsion brands (Tecno, Infinix, Itel).
• Transsion Holdings (Tecno, Infinix, Itel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHandset distribution partner with Airtel Uganda to provide low and middle-income households with affordable smartphones.
• Helios TowerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTower infrastructure partner; Helios reported accelerating tenancy additions from Airtel and other MNOs in Q1 2026, with contracted future revenues of $5.3bn.
• Government of RwandacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered in October 2023 on ConnectRwanda 2.0 initiative to provide over 1 million Rwandans with affordable high-speed LTE smartphones; supported by a contribution from Reed Hastings (Netflix co-founder). Smartphone penetration in Rwanda rose from 21% to 34% by 31 March 2024.
• Bharti Airtel Limited (parent)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and majority shareholder; raised stake to 79% via $2.9bn share swap with ICIL on 22 June 2026, with stated ambition to reach the 90% UK regulatory cap; provides technology, network strategy, procurement and talent synergies.
• Starlink (regulatory partners - Uganda/Kenya)minorOthersAirtel Uganda secured regulatory approval on 19 May 2026 to begin Starlink Direct-to-Cell tests, while the Communications Authority of Kenya is reviewing the Airtel-Starlink application over interference concerns.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ethio Telecom: Ethio Telecom is Ethiopia's incumbent state-owned mobile operator and the only nationwide mobile licence holder alongside the newer Safaricom-led consortium. It is a co-member of the Africa Group of Six and competes with Airtel Africa as the Group expands across the continent.
• Orange S.A. Orange operates mobile and fixed telecom services across multiple African markets, including Senegal, Mali, DRC, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso (where it acquired Airtel's operation in 2016), Morocco and Egypt. It is a direct competitor in francophone markets and a member of the Africa Group of Six.
• MTN Group: MTN Group is the largest pan-African mobile operator, offering mobile voice, data, mobile money (MTN MoMo) and enterprise services across more than 20 African markets. It directly competes with Airtel Africa in Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and several other markets and is a co-member of the Africa Group of Six sharing infrastructure.
• Safaricom: Safaricom is Kenya's leading mobile operator and the pioneer of M-Pesa, the most successful African mobile money platform. It directly competes with Airtel Kenya on voice, data, mobile money (M-Pesa vs Airtel Money) and enterprise services and is the principal competitor in Airtel's second-largest market.
• Vodacom Group: Vodacom Group operates mobile networks in South Africa, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya (Safaricom stake), Lesotho and Egypt. It is a direct competitor to Airtel in several overlapping African markets and a co-signatory of the August 2025 infrastructure-sharing agreement with Airtel Africa.
• Econet Wireless: Econet Wireless is a privately-held pan-African telecom group with operations in Zimbabwe (Econet Wireless Zimbabwe), Lesotho, Burundi and DRC, providing mobile voice, data, mobile money and fibre services. It is comparable to Airtel Africa as a multi-market mobile and fintech operator across sub-Saharan Africa.

Emerging players

• Africa Data Centres: Africa Data Centres (part of Cassava Technologies) operates carrier-neutral hyperscale data centre facilities in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and other African markets. It is a direct emerging competitor to Nxtra by Airtel Africa's hyperscale and edge colocation offering across the continent.

Broad incumbents

• Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid): Liquid is a pan-African fibre network and data centre operator (formerly Liquid Telecom), part of Cassava Technologies. It operates one of the largest independent fibre footprints in Africa and competes directly with Airtel's Telesonic wholesale fibre and Nxtra data centre businesses across multiple African markets.
• IHS Towers: IHS Towers is one of the largest independent tower operators in Africa, leasing tower infrastructure to Airtel, MTN and other African MNOs across Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Rwanda, Zambia and other markets. Comparable to Airtel's tower/operations footprint through its shared dependency on tower infrastructure economics.

Others

• Helios Towers: Helios Towers is a leading independent telecom tower infrastructure operator across Africa (DRC, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Senegal, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria), and is a major tower partner of Airtel Africa. Comparable as a key infrastructure supplier to Airtel's network rollout rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airtel-africa
• Xx.com/airtelafrica

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors17 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airtel Africa