Airtel Africa is rapidly deepening its position in Africa’s fintech ecosystem, with its mobile money platform, Airtel Money, surpassing 54 million active users as digital payments adoption accelerates across the continent.
The telecom group disclosed in its FY2026 results that Airtel Money’s customer base grew by 21.3 per cent year-on-year, driven by rising smartphone adoption, expanding merchant payments, digital lending services, and broader financial inclusion efforts across underserved African markets.
The company described mobile money as one of its strongest growth engines, supported by growing customer migration from feature phones to smartphones and stronger digital engagement through its MyAirtel platform.
According to the report, Airtel Money smartphone penetration rose above 51 per cent in March 2026, up from 48 per cent a year earlier, while app transacting customers surged 74 per cent year-on-year.
The telecom operator said total processed value (TPV) on the MyAirtel app jumped 79 per cent to $8.3 billion during FY2026, reflecting rising demand for digital financial services across its 14 African markets.
Airtel Africa is increasingly positioning Airtel Money beyond basic transfers into a broader fintech ecosystem covering merchant payments, savings, international remittances, digital lending, and card-linked financial services.
“Merchant payments remain a key growth pillar, enabling businesses to accept digital payments and accelerating the transition from cash,” the company stated.
The company also expanded its retail and agent network significantly during the year. Airtel Africa disclosed that it now operates through approximately 49,000 exclusive outlets, while its non-exclusive agent base grew by 39 per cent year-on-year.
Industry analysts say the latest results reinforce the growing convergence between telecommunications and financial services across Africa, where mobile operators are increasingly becoming critical drivers of financial inclusion.
Across many African countries, limited banking infrastructure and heavy reliance on cash transactions continue to create strong demand for mobile-led financial services.
Airtel Africa noted that limited access to formal financial services remains a major opportunity for Airtel Money’s expansion strategy.
The company’s digital push also reflects a broader shift in Africa’s fintech market, where telecom-led wallets are evolving into full-service digital finance platforms competing with banks and standalone fintech startups.
Airtel Africa had earlier disclosed plans to pursue an Airtel Money IPO, although the company later agreed with minority investors, including Mastercard and TPG’s Rise Fund, to defer certain shareholder put-option timelines by 12 months.
