Airtel Africa has reported major strides in expanding digital connectivity and promoting financial inclusion across its 14 markets, according to key highlights from its 2025 Sustainability Report.
The report underscores the telecoms and mobile money giant’s ongoing commitment to transforming lives through inclusive digital services, strategic investments in connectivity, and environmentally responsible operations.
The company revealed that it now covers 81.2% of the population in its operational footprint, up from 80.4% in the previous year.
This is supported by a growing 4G infrastructure network, which now includes 36,159 sites, more than 15,300 of which are located in rural areas.
To support this expansion, Airtel Africa invested $670 million in network modernisation, aimed at improving speed, capacity, and coverage.
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These efforts are part of the company’s broader mission to connect underserved communities to essential digital services, including mobile money platforms, with the goal of stimulating economic activity and enhancing access to services such as education and health.
“This year’s achievements—from connecting over 2,000 schools through our UNICEF partnership to growing our Airtel Money base to nearly 45 million with near-gender parity—show that technology is a powerful tool for inclusive growth,” said Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar.
“We’re not just building networks; we’re building bridges to education, financial empowerment, and a sustainable future.”
On the digital and financial inclusion front, the report shows that data customers rose to 73.4 million, marking a 14.1% increase from the previous year.
Airtel Money, the company’s mobile financial services platform, saw an impressive 17.3% growth, reaching 44.6 million customers, of whom 44.2% are women, a 6.2% improvement in gender representation.
The company also expanded its financial access footprint through a 1.7 million-strong Airtel Money agent network, a 23.4% increase that strengthens last-mile delivery of services in both urban and rural areas.
In terms of workforce diversity, women now make up 29.2% of Airtel Africa’s employees, up from 28.3% in 2023/24—demonstrating progress in advancing gender equity across the organisation.
Through targeted investments and inclusive strategies, Airtel Africa continues to bridge the digital divide while enabling millions—especially women and rural populations—to actively participate in Africa’s growing digital economy.
