Airtel Africa has announced that its mobile money operation, Airtel Money, processed transactions worth $61.4 billion. This comes amid its planned initial public offering (IPO) scheduled for
Airtel Africa has announced that its mobile money operation, Airtel Money, processed transactions worth $61.4 billion. This comes amid its planned initial public offering (IPO) scheduled for the second half of the year.
In a financial statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Thursday, covering the quarter ending June 30, 2026, the transaction processed represents the continued strength of the operation.
Airtel Money’s transaction volume for the period under review improved by 51.5% compared to the $40.5 billion processed exactly a year ago. This is attributed to the continued increase in digital payment systems, demand for fast transactions and its adoption by Africans.
The transaction value was generated across Airtel Africa’s 14 African markets, including Nigeria, East Africa and Francophone Africa.
Airtel Money In addition, total revenue for the period stood at $404 million, representing a 38.9% year-on-year (YoY) surge. The breakdown shows that $196 million was generated by wallet services, $172 million through payments and transfers, $21 million via financial services, while other services left uncategorised contributed $15 million.
As contained in the financial report, Airtel Money’s latest height was attributed to the operator’s strengthening of its distribution network, increased adoption of the digital offering and a continued expansion of the mobile money ecosystem in Africa.
In terms of the elevation of its network strengths, the operator spent $15 million on Airtel Money’s CAPEX during the quarter, representing the push for infrastructural needs, upgrades, and expansion.
Airtel Money’s customer base stood at 56.5 million, following a 23.3% year-on-year surge. Also, average revenue per user, which measures the contribution per customer, rose from $2.1 to $2.4 on a YoY basis.
Overall, the $404 million in revenue accounted for 21.8% of Airtel Africa’s total revenue during the second quarter of 2026.
Also Read: Airtel Africa revives mobile money IPO, targets $10bn valuation.
How Airtel Money generated revenue across its 14 African marketsIn Nigeria, Airtel’s leading market in terms of customer base and revenue, Airtel Money’s struggle to capitalise on the large customer base of the mobile services continues.
While revenue increased by 153.2% YoY in reported currency from $2 million to $5 million, the share of revenue is low compared to expectations. The customer base in Nigeria stood at 3.4 million.
Airtel Money’s biggest market, East Africa, recorded $297 million in revenue. Total customers in a market comprising Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia stood at 41.7 million at the end of Q2 2026.
Francophone Africa, with markets such as Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Republic of the Congo and the Seychelles, generated $102 million in Airtel Money revenue. The region’s customer base now stood at 11.4 million, from 8.1 million a year ago.
Airtel Money prepares for historic IPOThe transaction volume, customer base, footprints and revenue generation are a testament to Airtel Money’s expansion. It centres on the operator’s ambition to officially list the service.
Airtel Money The public offering, now slated for the second half of the year, is expected to value Airtel Money at around $10 billion. The IPO, previously expected to list in the Middle East, is now moving closer to a London listing.
“In connection with the proposed IPO of Airtel Money, the Group has identified London as its preferred listing venue, subject to regulatory approvals. We believe a London listing will provide access to a broad international investor base and support the long-term value creation potential of one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms,” the company said in its Q2 report.
The IPO, initially slated for the first half of 2026, was rescheduled owing to geopolitical tensions that had crippled international supply chains and driven up the costs of energy and logistics for companies.
