Airtel Africa’s 2025 Sustainability Report Highlights Digital Inclusion Push

Airtel Africa has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, showcasing major strides in delivering on its mission to transform lives by expanding access to digital services, driving inclusive economic growth, and promoting environmental responsibility across its 14 operational markets.
Throughout the 2024/25 financial year, the telecommunications and mobile money provider made significant progress in bridging the digital divide and fostering financial inclusion. Strategic investments in connectivity, human capital, and sustainable practices have helped the company reach some of the continent’s most underserved communities.
Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar emphasised the transformative impact of technology in the region, stating, “This year’s achievements, from connecting 2,176 schools through the UNICEF partnership to reaching 44.6 million Airtel Money customers with near-gender parity, prove that the power of technology is a catalyst for gender balance. At Airtel Africa, we believe we’re not only expanding networks, but also building bridges to education, financial security, and sustainable growth for Africa’s next generation.”
Airtel Africa’s network now covers 81.2% of the population across its markets, up from 80.4% the previous year. With 36,159 4G sites—including over 15,300 located in rural areas—the company continues to invest heavily in expanding and modernising its infrastructure. In 2024/25 alone, $670 million was directed toward improving network speed, coverage, and capacity, enabling millions to access voice, data, and mobile money services.
The company saw a sharp increase in data and mobile money usage, with 73.4 million data customers and 44.6 million Airtel Money users—an annual increase of 14.1% and 17.3% respectively. Notably, 44.2% of Airtel Money users are now women, representing a 6.2% year-on-year increase, while women now comprise 29.2% of the company’s workforce, up from 28.3% the previous year. The company also expanded its mobile money agent network to 1.7 million, a 23.4% increase, reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion and gender equality.
In education, Airtel Africa more than doubled its impact by connecting 2,176 schools to the internet free of charge, up from 1,201 schools in the previous year. This initiative, in partnership with UNICEF, is enabling young learners across the continent to access online resources and educational tools.
Environmental sustainability remains a key priority. The company converted 500 off-grid sites to on-grid power to reduce reliance on diesel generators and reported that 93% of its total waste was recycled, a 3% improvement from the previous year. These efforts reflect Airtel Africa’s growing commitment to minimising the environmental footprint of its operations.
The Airtel Africa 2025 Sustainability Report adheres to both the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and GSMA industry standards, underlining Airtel Africa’s dedication to transparency and responsible business practices as it continues to scale its impact across the continent.
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