Airtel

Airtel Nigeria enters 2026 as one of the country's most valuable and fastest-growing telecom brands, buoyed by a standout financial year. As Nigeria's second-largest mobile operator, Airtel serves roughly 58.3 million subscribers, and a 2025 tariff adjustment combined with rising data consumption and smartphone penetration transformed its performance: Nigeria delivered 47.5% constant-currency revenue growth for the year ended March 2026, among the strongest of any market in Airtel Africa's 14-country footprint, with ARPU climbing over 41% and capital expenditure up nearly 50% to fund continued 4G/5G rollout, fibre expansion, and submarine cable capacity.

At the group level, Airtel Africa's FY2026 results were similarly strong, with total revenue up 29.5% to $6.42 billion and profit after tax surging 147.4% to $813 million on record subscriber growth. Airtel Money's customer base expanded 21.3% to 54.1 million users, with the group reaffirming plans for an Airtel Money IPO in the second half of 2026. In Nigeria, Airtel Money (operating as SmartCash PSB) continues extending mobile wallets, transfers, and bill-payment access to previously unbanked Nigerians.

Beyond commercial performance, Airtel Nigeria remains widely recognised for its social impact through the Airtel Touching Lives initiative, which has renovated schools, funded scholarships, donated medical equipment, and supported small businesses nationwide, reinforcing the brand's position as a central player in Nigeria's digital and financial inclusion story.