Indian Billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel Africa Posts 1.42 Billion In First-quarter Revenue

Airtel Africa's Q1 revenue climbed 24.9 in constant currency, reaching 1.42 billion on soaring mobile data and Airtel Money growth.

Despite FX losses, Airtel added 1.2 million users, raised smartphone penetration to 45.9, and expanded its 4G and fiber footprint.

Sunil Taldar succeeds Segun Ogunsanya as CEO, reaffirming Airtel's strategy to boost digital and financial inclusion across 14 African markets.

Airtel Africa Plc, the pan-African telecommunications provider and a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, the Indian telecom giant led by billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, reported strong financial results for the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, with revenue reaching 1.42 billion driven by surging data usage, mobile money adoption, and sustained demand across key markets.

According to its latest quarterly update , the pan-African telecom and mobile money group posted a 24.9 percent rise in constant currency revenue to 1.42 billion in Q1 ended June 30, up from 1.16 billion a year earlier, driven by strong growth in mobile data and Airtel Moneyup 29.2 percent and 38.2 percent, respectively. Profit surged 408.1 percent to 156 million, up from 31 million in Q1 2025, significantly impacted by derivative and foreign exchange losses, primarily in Nigeria.

Nigeria, its biggest market, grew 28.5 percent in naira terms, East Africa rose 19.4 percent, and Francophone Africa climbed 11.9 percent. The group added 1.2 million new users, bringing its base to 147.7 million, with data users up 17.8 percent to 59.8 million and usage per user jumping 25.4 percent.

Data revenue surged 38.1 percent, backed by a 47.4 percent spike in data usage and smartphone penetration rising to 45.9 percent. Total subscribers rose 9 percent to 169.4 million, driven by digital adoption and expanded coverage. Data customers rose 17.4 percent to 75.6 million, supported by a 4.3 percentage-point rise in smartphone penetration to 45.9 percent as Airtel ramped up efforts to close Africas digital gap.

Airtel Africas revenue fell 4.6 percent in U.S. dollar terms in Q1, hit by currency devaluationsmost notably the naira, which plunged 65.3 percent year-on-year, cutting 298 million from reported revenue.