Airtel Africa has released its comprehensive Sustainability Report 2025, showcasing remarkable progress in digital transformation across sub-Saharan Africa. The telecommunications giant, operating in 14 African countries, has significantly expanded its reach while advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives that are reshaping the continent’s digital landscape.
Record-Breaking Network Expansion Drives Digital Inclusion
The company achieved impressive network expansion in 2024/25, reaching 81.2% population coverage across its footprint, up from 80.4% the previous year. This growth was powered by the deployment of 36,159 4G infrastructure sites, including over 15,300 strategically positioned in rural areas where connectivity gaps persist.
“In a continent as dynamic and diverse as Africa, the needs are significant, but so is the potential,” said Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that as we grow, we’re creating meaningful value for the people and communities we serve”.
The investment in infrastructure paid dividends, with data customers surging to 73.4 million, representing a robust 14.1% year-over-year growth. Smartphone penetration also improved significantly, reaching 44.8%, up 4.3 percentage points from 2023/24, indicating increased accessibility to advanced mobile services. This progress directly addresses the smartphone affordability challenges that have been widening Africa’s digital divide, where the cost of smartphones represents nearly 30% of average African salaries.
Mobile Money Revolution Advances Financial Inclusion
Airtel Africa’s mobile money platform, Airtel Money, emerged as a powerful force for financial inclusion, serving 44.6 million customers, a substantial 17.3% increase from the previous year. The platform processed an impressive $136 billion in transaction value, demonstrating its critical role in Africa’s digital economy.
Particularly noteworthy is the platform’s success in bridging the gender gap in financial services. Women now represent 44.2% of Airtel Money customers, marking a 6.2% increase from 2023/24. This achievement aligns with broader efforts to empower women economically across the continent and builds on previous partnerships with Network International to enhance payment processing capabilities.
The company’s distribution network expanded dramatically, with 1.7 million Airtel Money agents now serving communities across the 14 markets, representing a 23.4% increase. These agents serve as crucial touchpoints for financial services in areas where traditional banking infrastructure remains limited.
Educational Impact Through Strategic Partnerships
Airtel Africa’s commitment to education yielded significant results through its landmark $57 million partnership with UNICEF. The initiative connected 2,176 schools to the internet free of charge, nearly doubling from 1,200 schools in the previous year. This expansion provided 1.6 million schoolchildren with access to online educational platforms and digital learning resources.
The education program spans 13 of Airtel Africa’s 14 markets, offering zero-rated access to 34 certified educational platforms. In Nigeria alone, 1,125 schools are now connected, benefiting over 850,000 students.
Environmental Progress Despite Challenges
While advancing digital inclusion, Airtel Africa maintained focus on environmental stewardship. The company converted 500 off-grid sites to on-grid power, saving approximately 350,000 litres of fuel and reducing operational emissions. Additionally, 93% of total waste generated was recycled, up 3% from the previous year.
However, total scope 1 and 2 emissions increased by 4.3% to 134,021 tCO2e, primarily due to external challenges including severe droughts in Zambia that reduced grid availability and forced greater reliance on diesel generators. The company remains committed to its 2050 net-zero emissions target despite these operational challenges.
Strategic Infrastructure Investments and Future Growth
With $670 million in annual capital expenditure, down from $737 million the previous year, Airtel Africa continues balancing growth investments with operational efficiency. The company serves 166.1 million total customers across its footprint, positioning it as a key driver of Africa’s digital transformation.
The sustainability achievements complement Airtel Africa’s recent strategic partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, which will expand satellite internet access to remote areas across the continent. This partnership represents one of the most significant telco-satellite collaborations in Africa to date.
Workforce Development and Gender Balance
The company invested $1.86 million in training and development programs, with employees completing 426,393 total learning hours. Women’s representation in the workforce improved to 29.2%, up from 28.3% in 2023/24, reflecting ongoing efforts to build an inclusive workplace.
“This year’s achievements, from connecting schools through the UNICEF partnership to reaching millions with mobile money services, prove that technology is a catalyst for progress,” Taldar noted in the company’s press release.
As Airtel Africa advances toward its sustainability goals, the report demonstrates how telecommunications infrastructure can simultaneously drive economic inclusion and environmental responsibility across one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. The company’s comprehensive approach to ESG initiatives positions it as a leader in Africa’s broader digital financial inclusion efforts, contributing to the continent’s economic transformation.
