Telecom

Airtel Africa Records Customer Base Increase of 8.7Percent to 166.1m

Published

1 year ago

May 9, 2025

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Airtel Africa has grown its customer base by 8.7 percent to 166.1 million, the increase was with a focus on digital inclusion, supporting a 4.3 per cent increase in smartphone penetration to 44.8 per cent, according to its full year result released yesterday.

Data customers increased by 14.1 per cent to 73.4 million, with data usage per customer increasing by 30.4 per cent to 7.0 GB, supporting data ARPU growth of 15.4 per cent in constant currency.

Financial performance

In Q4’25, transaction value increased by 34 per cent in constant currency, with annualised transaction value at $ 145 billion.

The firm said its strategic focus on great customer experience was underpinned by sustained network investment, with the rollout of 2,583 new sites and approximately 3,300 km of fibre, supporting increased data capacity across the region.

Revenues of $4.955 billion grew by 21.1 per cent in constant currency but declined by 0.5 per cent in reported currency as currency devaluation impacted reported revenues. Strong execution and the tariff adjustments in Nigeria contributed to a further quarter of accelerating growth, with Q4’25 revenue growth of 23.2 per cent in constant currency, and 17.8 per cent in reported currency as currency headwinds eased.

Across the Group, mobile services revenue grew by 19.6 per cent in constant currency, driven by voice revenue growth of 10.6 per cent and data revenue growth of 30.5 per cent. Mobile money revenue grew by 29.9 per cent in constant currency.

For the year ended March 31, 2025, underlying EBITDA declined by 5.1 per cent in reported currency to $2.304 billion, with underlying EBITDA margins of 46.5 per cent compared to 48.8 per cent in the prior year, impacted by increased fuel prices and the lower contribution of Nigeria to the Group.

However, following a more stable operating environment and benefits from Airtel Africa’s cost efficiency programme, underlying EBITDA margins have expanded from 45.3 per cent in Q1’25 to 47.3 per cent in Q4’25.

Profit after tax of $328 million improved from a $89 million loss in the prior period. The prior period was significantly impacted by derivative and foreign exchange losses, primarily in Nigeria.

Basic EPS of 6.0 cents compares to negative (4.4 cents) in the prior period, predominantly reflecting lower derivative and foreign exchange losses in the current period.

EPS before exceptional items declined from 10.1 cents in the prior period to 8.2 cents, largely due to higher finance cost arising on account of tower contract renewals, which had a neutral to positive impact on cashflows, and a deferred impact of prior period currency devaluation.

The Board recommended a final dividend of 3.9 cents per share, making the total dividend for the full year 6.5 cents per share, a 9.2 per cent growth from the previous year, in line with the dividend policy. In addition, during the year, Airtel Africa returned $120 million to shareholders through share buyback programmes.

Sunil Taldar, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We have reported another strong operating performance as our strategy continues to deliver against the significant opportunity that exists across our markets. The focus on our refreshed strategy has seen continued investment in the network while also driving improvements in our digital platforms and offerings to further enhance the customer experience.

“This has enabled increased digital inclusion with a further 20 per cent growth in our smartphone customers to 74.4 million, contributing to a 47.5 per cent increase in data traffic over the year. Furthermore, Airtel Money continues to support financial inclusion with customers increasing 17.3 per cent to 44.6 million and an expanding ecosystem underpinning the $ 136 billion transaction value, which increased 32 per cent in constant currency.”

He said: “An improving operating environment and focused execution contributed to strong momentum in our financial results with constant currency revenue growth peaking at 23.2 per cent in Q4’25. Part of this acceleration in the last quarter has also been driven by the Nigerian tariff adjustments.

“This accelerating revenue growth and cost optimization programme has supported quarterly EBITDA margin expansion during the year. Underlying EBITDA margins increased by 200 bps from 45.3 per cent in Q1’25 to 47.3 per cent in Q4’25, and we remain focused on further EBITDA margin improvements, subject to macroeconomic stability. This, combined with our robust capital structure and disciplined capital allocation, puts us in a strong position to continue investing in network capacity to deliver continued growth.

According to the CEO, “The recent stability in the operating environment is encouraging, however, we remain conscious of global developments that may impact our business. We will remain focused on delivering our strategy to transform the lives of our customers and support economic prosperity across our markets. I want to say a particular thank-you to our customers, partners, governments and regulators for their support and our employees for their unrelenting contribution to the business.”

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Telecom

NCC Reports over 5,000 Fibre Cuts in 6 Months

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12 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts linked to road construction, excavation and related civil works were recorded in the first six months of 2026.

NCC Reports over 5,000 Fibre Cuts in 6 Months

The commission said that the damage is disrupting telecommunications services, increasing operators’ costs and exposing businesses and essential public services to avoidable interruptions.

Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, disclosed the figure at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure during road construction and rehabilitation.

He said the scale of the incidents showed the need to prevent damage rather than wait to repair networks after they had been cut

Maida said fibre networks support banking, healthcare, education, government services, commerce, security and emergency communications.

He recalled the widespread telecommunications disruption in February 2024, when fibre cuts affected millions of Nigerians and caused congestion on alternative networks as subscribers switched providers.

He said a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables had been established by the Federal Ministries of Works and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to improve coordination before, during and after road construction.

The committee was later expanded to include the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps because of the critical nature of telecommunications infrastructure.

Raphael Adelador, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, said road construction and telecommunications infrastructure often occupy the same physical space, making coordination essential.

Adelador called for better mapping of fibre routes and improved information sharing so contractors and consultants know where telecommunications infrastructure is located before excavation begins.

He said damage to fibre networks could lead to service disruptions, lost productivity, financial losses and inconvenience to citizens.

Representing Nadungu Gagare, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Stanley Musa, director of Telecoms and Postal Services, said the protection of telecommunications infrastructure was a shared national responsibility.

The Permanent Secretary said that the government was working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen compliance with technical standards and right-of-way requirements, improve information sharing and develop clearer procedures for infrastructure protection.

Air Vice Marshal Effiom Ewa, director of Critical National Standards and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, said fibre-optic infrastructure had been designated as critical national information infrastructure and warned that damage caused by negligence, interference or actions that expose the infrastructure to damage could attract legal consequences.

Air Vice Marshal Ewa called for strict compliance with established procedures during construction and maintenance activities.

The two-day workshop brought together representatives of government ministries and agencies, security organisations, telecommunications operators, contractors and other stakeholders to develop practical measures for reducing fibre damage during construction projects.

The stakeholders are expected to strengthen coordination, information sharing and accountability so that road development does not undermine the digital infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s economy.

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Telecom

ipNX Joins Calls for Innovation-Friendly Ecosystem and Stronger Local Opportunities at Regenesys AI Summit

Published

12 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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ipNX Nigeria has joined stakeholders at the Regenesys AI Summit to call for innovation-friendly regulations and stronger local opportunities. Chief Technology Architect, ipNX Nigeria, Oluwaseun Oluboyo, made the call for a collaborative approach to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, and emphasized the need to foster innovation while developing enabling frameworks that support responsible adoption and sustainable growth.

Speaking during a panel session at the summit themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” Oluboyo encouraged business leaders, policymakers and technology stakeholders to create an environment where innovation can flourish through experimentation, collaboration and continuous learning.

“If you don’t try new things, if you only stick to what is familiar, we are not going to go progress as a society or an ecosystem,” he said. “Innovation requires the confidence to explore new ideas, while ensuring that customers remain protected.”

Reflecting on the rapid evolution of AI technologies, Oluboyo noted that governance frameworks should remain adaptable to accommodate emerging innovations and evolving industry needs.

“As technology continues to evolve, it is important that we focus on the outcomes we want to achieve while creating room for innovation. Organisations naturally build on what works, but continuous improvement is essential to unlocking new possibilities.”

He observed that creating a supportive innovation ecosystem will enable organisations to deploy AI responsibly while accelerating digital transformation across industries.

Oluboyo also highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s technology ecosystem by creating more opportunities for local talent to innovate, build and thrive within the country.

“We should continue creating the environment that makes Nigeria an attractive destination for innovation and enables our brightest talents to contribute meaningfully to national development.”

He noted that sustained investment in digital infrastructure, skills development and innovation ecosystems will be instrumental in positioning Nigeria to maximise the economic and societal benefits of Artificial Intelligence.

Held recently in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Regenesys AI Summit convened technology leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry experts to examine how Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping business models and redefining leadership priorities.

Other speakers on the panel were Ugo Umeseaka, COO, Redtech Limited; Oladele Adedoyin, Partnership Development Manager, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and Dr Oluwatomi Kogo, Managing Director, Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals.

The summit, themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” provided a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing and practical insights into the opportunities AI presents for economic growth, business innovation and national development.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate across Nigeria, conversations such as these remain essential in fostering collaboration among industry, academia and policymakers to ensure Artificial Intelligence is deployed responsibly, inclusively and for the benefit of society.

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Telecom

Google Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for Emerging Voices Growth Lab

Published

12 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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Google News Initiative (GNI) has selected six Nigerian independent news creators to participate in its Emerging News Voices Growth Lab for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Google Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for Emerging Voices Growth Lab

The selected Nigerian creators are Onlinebanker, Adetunji Films, More Branches TV, Wearegst, Iswellthecapitalist and The Republic.

They are part of a cohort of about 20 emerging news creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa participating in the multi-month virtual programme, which runs through September 2026.

The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of creator-led and digital-native newsrooms through practical training in artificial intelligence, video production, audience development, direct reader engagement and sustainable revenue strategies.

The GNI said the programme was developed in response to the changing way Nigerians, particularly younger audiences, discover and consume news through social-first channels and digital platforms.

According to the initiative, while creator-led journalism is expanding rapidly, many independent newsrooms operate with limited resources and do not have the same access to technology, training and revenue expertise available to established media organisations.

Participants in the Growth Lab will work with Google trainers and product experts across four key areas.

The first is AI in the newsroom, where participants will receive hands-on guidance on integrating tools such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Google Trends and SynthID into newsroom workflows for research, transcription, translation and verification.

The programme will also focus on video and audience growth, providing practical strategies for building YouTube channels and using both Shorts and long-form video to reach new audiences.

Another area is direct reader relationships, with participants expected to strengthen their open-web presence and newsletters in order to develop first-party audiences that newsrooms can directly engage.

The fourth area is sustainable revenue, with sessions covering monetisation strategies, product differentiation and audience growth models.

Marianne Erasmus, News Partnerships Lead, Middle East and Africa at Google, said independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms were increasingly shaping how Africans, particularly Nigerians, find and understand news.

“Independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms are shaping how Africans, and Nigerians in particular, find and understand the news,” Erasmus said.

She said the Growth Lab would equip emerging newsrooms with practical AI skills, video and audience strategies, direct relationships with readers and approaches to sustainable revenue.

Erasmus added that strengthening the capabilities and financial independence of emerging news voices would contribute to a more resilient, diverse and sustainable news ecosystem.

Wale Lawal, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Republic, said the programme was providing practical ways for the publication to combine audience insights, product thinking and responsible AI use.

“Google’s Emerging News Voices Growth Lab is giving us practical ways to combine audience insight, product thinking and the responsible use of AI as we build a more sustainable future for The Republic’s journalism,” Lawal said.

Similarly, Nasir Achile Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of MoreBranches, said the programme had provided practical resources, new tools and opportunities to connect with experts and fellow journalists.

Ahmed said the initiative had also provided information that validated some of the newsroom’s previous observations while equipping its team with knowledge on how to use new tools effectively.

He said the engagement with experts and fellow journalists had created a supportive environment for strengthening storytelling.

The Growth Lab emerged from the Global News Gap Project, a continent-wide mapping initiative conducted with Project Oasis and Code for Africa to identify independent African news creators and areas where emerging newsrooms require additional support.

The programme is part of Google’s broader support for the Nigerian media industry.

Since 2018, Google has supported newsroom transformation projects through the Google News Initiative and provided publishers with opportunities to strengthen their advertising revenue capabilities through the Ad Manager Academy.

Google said that since 2024, it had trained more than 1,500 Nigerian journalists and editors in areas including online safety, advanced Search, digital verification and audience analytics.

It also supports media skills development through its collaboration with the MTN Media Innovation Programme, where fellows receive practical training on AI as a productivity partner and newsroom technologies, including News Consumer Insights and Gemini.

The latest initiative reflects the growing importance of digital-native journalism as news consumption continues to shift towards social media, video platforms and other online channels.

Through the Growth Lab, GNI is seeking to help emerging news creators build stronger digital operations, expand their audiences and develop sustainable business models while responsibly adopting emerging technologies.

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