Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has published its Sustainability Report 2025, reaffirming its corporate purpose of transforming lives by expanding access to essential digital services, supporting inclusive economic growth, and advancing environmental stewardship throughout its operations.

In 2024/25, Airtel Africa made significant progress in bridging the digital divide, advancing financial inclusion and supporting underserved communities through strategic investment in connectivity, people, and sustainable practices.

Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer Sunil Taldar said: “This year’s achievements, from connecting 2,176 schools through the UNICEF partnership to reaching 44.6 million Airtel Money customers with near-gender parity, prove that the power of technology is a catalyst for gender balance. At Airtel Africa, we believe to not only expanding networks but we’re also building bridges to education, financial security and sustainable growth for Africa’s next generation.”

Key ESG highlights:

1. Providing underserved communities with access to reliable network and connectivity:

• 2% population coverage across 14 markets (up from 80.4% in 2023/24)
• 36,159 4G infrastructure sites, including more than 15,300 in rural areas.
• Continued investment of $670m in network expansion and modernisation to boost speed, coverage and capacity.

Airtel Africa is connecting the unconnected, giving millions access to voice, data and mobile money services – driving economic opportunity and enhancing access to essential services.

2. Bridging the digital divide, driving financial inclusion and addressing gender inequality

• 4 million data customers (+14.1% vs 2023/24)
• 6 million Airtel Money customers (+17.3%), with 44.2% Airtel Money customers who are women (+6.2% vs 2023/24)
• 7 million Airtel Money agents in our distribution network (+23.4% vs 2023/24)
• 2% women in the workforce across the Group (up from 28.3% vs 2023/24)

Through inclusive digital services and affordable financial products, Airtel Africa is empowering individuals and communities, particularly women, to fully participate in the digital economy.

3. Unlocking potential through education and employment opportunities

• 2,176 schools connected to the internet free of charge (up from 1,201 in 2023/24)

By providing free connectivity and online resources to schools, Airtel Africa is helping young people reach their full potential. A growing agent network also supports employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across its footprint.

4. Minimising the impact of our operations on the environment

• 500 off-grid sites converted to on-grid power, reducing reliance on diesel generators.
• 93% of total waste recycled (+3% vs 2023/24)

Airtel Africa is committed to reducing the impact of its operations on the environment through investment in renewable energy solutions and responsible waste management.

The Sustainability Report 2025 adheres to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and GSMA telecommunications industry standards.

The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) wishes to inform the public and all mobile subscribers that the migration to the End-User Billing (EUB) model for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services will take effect from Wednesday, 18th June 2025.

This transition marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem and is being implemented per the Determination of USSD Pricing and Services issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Determination was developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other key stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, transparent, and customer-friendly framework for USSD service delivery.

USSD services play a vital role in expanding access to financial services, particularly for unbanked and underbanked populations. However, the previous corporate billing model—where banks were billed by telecom operators—led to prolonged disputes over unpaid charges, service interruptions, and uncertainty for customers.

To address these challenges, the NCC’s 2025 Determination introduced the End-User Billing model, which allows mobile network operators to charge customers directly for USSD sessions.

To achieve the implementation of the EUB model, the CBN and NCC have stipulated that only banks that meet certain regulatory and operational conditions are permitted to migrate. One of which is the notification to customers of the billing change in advance, and to ensure that customers are fully aware of the new airtime-based charges and how they will be applied.

Accordingly, under the new billing model, USSD charges will be deducted directly from the customer’s airtime balance, not from their bank account, and each USSD session will attract a charge of ₦6.98 per 120 seconds. To enjoy the service, customers will receive a prompt to opt in and approve the charge before any deduction is made, and there will be no double billing as billing will only occur for successful sessions via airtime deductions.

ALTON wishes to reiterate that this change does not affect the availability or functionality of USSD banking services, as customers can continue to use their bank’s USSD codes as usual, provided they have sufficient airtime.

To ensure a smooth transition, ALTON advises customers to follow these support guidelines:

–For access issues (e.g., inability to dial USSD codes), contact your mobile network operator.

– For transaction-related issues (e.g., failed transfers or service errors), contact your bank’s customer service.

– Both banks and mobile network operators are required to provide responsive support and mensure that customers can access and use USSD services without disruption.

Alternative digital banking channels such as mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs remain fully operational and available for customer convenience.

ALTON reiterates its commitment to working closely with the NCC, CBN, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure that this transition is seamless, equitable, and beneficial to all parties, especially the end users.

We remain dedicated to promoting transparency, operational efficiency, and consumer protection across Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital finance sectors.

The GSMA, in partnership with the mobile industry, is calling for strengthened collective action to protect children online across Africa. Building on insights from a high-level roundtable convened at the Ministerial Programme during MWC25 Barcelona, the GSMA yesterday released a new whitepaper, Enhancing Child Online Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa outlining key recommendations to guide governments, regulators, industry, civil society, and youth stakeholders as they work together to create a safer digital environment for children.

With Africa’s digital transformation accelerating, the number of children accessing the internet is rising rapidly – often through mobile devices, as the region remains mobile-first.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) set out the fundamental rights of all children, both of which provide a critical foundation for ensuring that children’s rights are fully respected, protected, and fulfilled in the digital age. Mobile technology holds enormous potential to help advance these rights, as explored in the GSMA-UNICEF report Enhancing Children’s Lives through Mobile.

While published in 2019, the report’s principles and mapping remain highly relevant today, reflecting the GSMA’s longstanding commitment to this area. We continue to work closely with UNICEF, and as a next step, GSMA and UNICEF will co-lead a new regional taskforce to help drive forward the recommendations from this whitepaper and strengthen cooperation across governments, industry, and civil society.

Mobile can open doors to education, social connection, and development. But as connectivity expands, so too do the risks: children are increasingly exposed to cyberbullying, harmful content, and online exploitation. Recognising both the opportunities and challenges of the digital environment, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child dedicated the 2023 Day of the African Child (DAC) to this important theme – reinforcing the urgent need for cross-sector cooperation.

The GSMA and its members in Africa have worked together to highlight shared challenges, amplify the voices of young people, and identify areas where governments, industry, and civil society can strengthen coordinated efforts.

Key recommendations from the whitepaper include:

• Ensuring child- and youth-centred approaches in policy and programme development
• Strengthening national frameworks in line with the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Strategy
• Expanding digital literacy and awareness initiatives for children, parents, and educators
• Building stronger public-private partnerships to scale resources, tools, and services across the region

Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA, said: “Protecting children online is a responsibility shared across governments, industry, civil society, and families. By working together, we can ensure the digital environment becomes a place of opportunity – not risk – for Africa’s children. This whitepaper is an important step in supporting stakeholders across the region as they advance this urgent agenda.”

Nankali Maksud, Regional Advisor for Child Protection at UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa, added: “Children and young people under 18 make up half of Africa’s population. Protecting their safety online is not only about safeguarding rights, but about investing in Africa’s human capital and future leadership.

This whitepaper helps elevate African voices, African leadership, and African solutions for protecting children in the digital space. We at UNICEF look forward to co-hosting a taskforce for GSMA to take forward the recommendations emerging from this whitepaper”.

The whitepaper integrates regional data, including findings from IPSOS research commissioned by MTN Group, as well as insights from youth advocate Jemima Kasongo, 19, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who opened the roundtable during MWC25 with a powerful call to action on behalf of young people across the continent.

The GSMA reaffirms that child online protection is a global priority, with efforts underway worldwide to strengthen safer digital environments. Initiatives such as the GSMA Mobile Alliance to Combat Digital Child Sexual Exploitation bring together international mobile operators to drive good practice and coordinate global responses.

While this new whitepaper focuses on Africa, it builds on the GSMA’s broader global commitment, including newly published guidance on incorporating young voices into digital policy and solution design. The GSMA encourages all stakeholders to engage with the recommendations and join the ongoing dialogue to help ensure a safer digital future for Africa’s children.