Airtel Africa has posted strong growth in revenue, profit and customers in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year, driven by rising demand for data and mobile money services across its markets.
In its Q3 2026 financial results, the telecoms group said revenue climbed by 28.3 percent year-on-year to $4.7 million, up from $3.64 million in the same period last year.
On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 24.6 percent, showing steady business momentum despite currency pressure in some markets.
“Data revenue increased by 39.8 percent to $1.83 million, while mobile money revenue grew by 34.9 percent to $986 million,” the company said, noting that these two segments remain its fastest-growing areas. Voice revenue also expanded, rising 17.1 percent year-on-year to $1.71 billion.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose by 26.1 percent to $2.28 million, with the EBITDA margin improving to 48.9 percent from 46.2 percent a year earlier.
Airtel Africa said the stronger margin reflected “improved operational efficiency and disciplined cost management,” even as total expenses increased by 21.9 percent to support network growth and more customers.
Profit after tax surged by 136.6 percent to $586 million, up from $248 million a year earlier. Profit before tax increased by 107.2 percent to $1.02 million, while basic earnings per share jumped by 198.2 percent to 13.1 cents.
The company also reported solid quarterly performance, with Q3 revenue rising 32.9 percent to $1.69 million and EBITDA increasing by 40.8 percent to $836 million.
The quarterly EBITDA margin reached 49.6 percent, highlighting the strength of its operating model.
Airtel Africa continued to expand its customer base, with total subscribers growing by 10 percent to 179.4 million. This was supported by increased spending on network infrastructure, with capital expenditure rising 32.2 percent to $603 million over the nine-month period and more than doubling year-on-year in the quarter to $285 million.
Operating free cash flow grew by 37.2 percent to $1.68 million, while net cash generated from operating activities increased by 42.1 percent to $2.31 million. The company’s balance sheet also improved, with leverage falling to 1.9 times net debt to EBITDA from 2.4 times a year earlier.
Airtel Africa said the results show “the resilience of demand for connectivity and financial inclusion services,” as data usage and mobile money adoption continue to rise across its markets.
