Airtel Africa increased its mobile network population coverage to 81.2 percent from 80.4 percent the year before, with a primary focus on rural areas. The operator achieves this milestone by deploying more than 15,300 infrastructure sites spread across remote areas, offering dependable voice, data, and Airtel Money services to previously disconnected communities.
This information was contained in the telecom provider’s 2025 Sustainability Report released on Wednesday, which outlines notable advancements in promoting inclusive digital growth, increasing access to mobile financial services, and integrating sustainability throughout its 14 sub-Saharan African markets.
The company’s operations for the fiscal year 2024–2025 are covered in the report, which highlights Airtel Africa’s expanding significance as a vital facilitator of socioeconomic development.
Airtel’s primary initiatives include bolstering resilient infrastructure, addressing the digital divide, and generating employment opportunities in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
With an annual capital expenditure of $670 million, Airtel installed 3,300 kilometres of fibre and 2,600 new network sites to support this scale.
Enhancing financial inclusion through Airtel Money
Airtel Africa’s financial inclusion strategy still relies heavily on Airtel Money. The platform grew 17.3 percent year over year in 2024–2025, handling over $136 billion in transaction value and serving 44.6 million users.
With 44.2 percent of Airtel Money customers now being female, up 6.2 percent from the previous year, the platform is also promoting gender inclusion. For small-scale traders, informal workers, and women-owned enterprises, Airtel Money provides initial access to formal financial services in numerous nations.
Provision of free internet access to 2,176 schools
Moreover, the report highlights significant advancements in education. In its historic $57 million partnership with UNICEF, Airtel provided free internet access to 2,176 schools, up from 1,200 the year before.
The recently established Airtel Africa Foundation has also started to make an impact by providing data science and artificial intelligence scholarships and funding the training of digital skills for 25,000 youth in Nigeria via the government’s 3MTT initiative.
Conversion of 500 off-grid locations to on-grid power
Airtel Africa continues to minimise the environmental effects of its activities. To help reduce the use of diesel, the company converted 500 off-grid locations to on-grid power in 2024–2025. Additionally, it achieved a 93 percent recycling rate for waste among all operations and substituted lithium-ion batteries for 1,411 end-of-life batteries.
A $135 million sustainability-linked loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was also obtained by the company to promote ESG-aligned development in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To qualify for the loan, you must meet certain goals related to gender parity, financial access, and digital inclusion.
Airtel reports 166.1 customers across its 14 African markets
Having 166.1 million customers overall, including 73.4 million data users, Airtel Africa claims that its sustainability strategy is integrated into its business processes and linked to long-term effects on local communities.
Sunil Taldar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, stated, “In a continent as dynamic and diverse as Africa, the needs are significant—but so is the potential. And it’s our responsibility to ensure that as we grow, we’re creating meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
The 2025 report aligns with global standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). It also reflects Airtel Africa’s continued commitment to the UN Global Compact and best practices in ESG governance.
As Africa’s digital landscape evolves, Airtel Africa’s investments in infrastructure, financial technology, and climate-conscious innovation are positioning it as a key force for inclusive, tech-enabled progress across the continent.
