Airtel Nigeria Revenue Rises 45% To N1.37trn Amid Data Earnings Boost

Airtel Nigeria’s revenue rose by 45 per cent to N1.37 trillion in the six months ended September 2026, driven largely by surging demand for mobile data services, which generated N732.6 billion during the period.

The performance represents an increase from N941.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, underscoring the growing contribution of internet consumption to the telecommunications company’s earnings amid rising demand for broadband connectivity.

The half-year financial results of its parent company, Airtel Africa Plc, showed that data revenue increased by 52.7 per cent from N480.7 billion recorded a year earlier to N732.6 billion, accounting for more than half of Airtel Nigeria’s total revenue.

The strong growth in data earnings reflects the increasing reliance of individuals and businesses on mobile internet services for communication, digital transactions, entertainment, remote work and other online activities.

Voice services also recorded significant growth, with revenue increasing by 37.8 per cent to N498.24 billion, reflecting sustained demand for traditional telecommunications services despite the expanding adoption of internet-based communication platforms.

Airtel Nigeria’s average revenue per user (ARPU) stood at approximately N3,771 during the period, indicating improved revenue generation from its expanding subscriber base.

The company’s customer base grew by 15.1 per cent to 61.7 million from 53.6 million in the corresponding period of 2025, while internet subscribers increased to 32.9 million from 29.5 million.

The growth in internet subscribers further highlights the expanding market for mobile broadband services in Nigeria and the increasing importance of data consumption to the company’s overall financial performance.

The strong revenue performance also translated into improved operating profitability, as Airtel Nigeria’s underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 49.2 per cent to $586 million.

Its EBITDA margin also improved to 58.2 per cent from 56.3 per cent in the corresponding period, indicating improved operational efficiency and the company’s ability to sustain profitability amid rising operating costs.

To support the increasing demand for data services and improve network capacity, Airtel Nigeria significantly increased its capital expenditure by approximately 140 per cent to $177 million from $74 million recorded in the same period of 2025.

The investment reflects the company’s efforts to expand its telecommunications infrastructure, improve network coverage and accommodate growing data traffic across its Nigerian operations.

However, the expansion drive comes amid persistent concerns over telecommunications service quality, network congestion and the rising cost of maintaining infrastructure in the country.

Airtel Africa identified rising energy costs as a major operational challenge in Nigeria, disclosing that fuel prices had doubled since the beginning of its financial year.

The development has increased pressure on operating expenses, particularly as a significant portion of telecommunications infrastructure depends on diesel-powered generators due to unreliable electricity supply.

The rising cost of energy presents an additional challenge for operators seeking to expand network capacity and improve service delivery while maintaining profitability in an increasingly competitive telecommunications market.

At the group level, Airtel Africa recorded revenue of $3.82 billion, representing a 28.2 per cent increase from the previous year, while profit after tax rose by 20.5 per cent to $452 million from $376 million.

The group also invested $657 million in capital expenditure during the six-month period and added 4,200 network sites across its African markets as part of efforts to strengthen network coverage and capacity.

Commenting on the performance, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Sunil Taldar, attributed the growth to sustained demand across the company’s markets despite inflationary pressures and rising energy costs.

He said operational discipline, cost-efficiency measures and economies of scale had helped the company sustain profitability while increasing investments in network infrastructure.

Nigeria remained a major contributor to the group’s growth during the period, reflecting the country’s strategic importance to Airtel Africa’s operations.

However, the difference between Nigeria’s reported-currency revenue growth of 44.6 per cent and constant-currency growth of 26.6 per cent highlights the significant influence of foreign exchange movements on the company’s financial performance.

The figures indicate that while Airtel Nigeria recorded substantial growth in naira-denominated revenue, part of the increase was also influenced by exchange-rate movements, underscoring the impact of currency fluctuations on the financial reporting of multinational telecommunications operators.