This month, Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications and mobile money services provider in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
Airtel Africa has been promoting social change across the continent over the last decade, allowing millions of people to access data services and be part of the financial system.
Bharti Airtel established its presence in Africa when it acquired Africa operations from Zain Telecom in June 2010.
The company has expanded significantly, serving more than 110 million consumers, bridging the digital divide and growing financial inclusion.
The anniversary follows another recent milestone for Airtel Africa when the firm was listed on the stock exchanges in London and Nigeria.
Airtel Africa employs more than 3,300 people throughout Africa, with another 1,6 million people earning money by working as entrepreneurs with Airtel Africa and in its distribution network.
The voice, data, and mobile money services provided by Airtel Africa drive growth and transform the lives of customers.
Airtel Africa provides 110.6 million customers with voice services, 35.4 million customers with data services and 18.3 million customers with mobile money services. In the last financial year the company had a turnover of $3.4 bn.
Over the past decade, Airtel Africa has expanded its network footprint enabling millions of people to access telecommunications services and took the lead in robust 4 G network deployment, helping drive digitalisation.
The introduction of wireless home broadband has further assisted the evolving needs of service customers. The mobile money services offered by Airtel Africa offer exclusively guaranteed float to customers and a increasing range of strategic alliances allow for cross-border money transfers.
Airtel Africa also launched a virtual card, which would further boost financial inclusion.
Reflecting on the past 10 years, Raghunath Mandava, CEO, Airtel Africa, said: “Our vision is to enrich the lives of our customers. I want to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues, partners, suppliers, and distributors for their support as we have worked together to deliver on our purpose.
In these challenging times, the Airtel Africa team along with our partners are working hard to provide our customers with reliable voice, data, and mobile money services.”
History of Airtel Africa plc
2010:
Bharti Airtel Limited acquired the African operations of the Zain Group (formerly Mobile Telecommunications Group) comprising 36 million subscribers operating in 15 countries, including 12 of the Group’s current 14-country footprint.
The Group further expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Telecom Seychelles Limited.
2012:
The Group launched its greenfield operations in Rwanda.
2013:
The Group expanded its operations in Uganda and in Congo through the acquisition of Warid Telecom Uganda and Warid Congo SA from the Warid Group.
2015:
The Group acquired yuMobile’s subscriber base in Kenya from Essar Telecommunications Kenya, a part of the Essar Group.
2016:
The Group completed the sale of its operations in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone to France-based Orange, to better streamline the Group’s footprint in East Africa.
2017:
The Group deconsolidated its operations in Ghana upon entering into a joint venture with Millicom International Cellular (which operates under the “Tigo” brand in Ghana) whereby Airtel and Millicom share equal ownership and governance rights in a combined “AirtelTigo” entity.
2018:
The Group acquired the operations of Tigo Rwanda, a subsidiary of Millicom.
Airtel Africa Limited, the Group’s UK holding company, was incorporated and registered as a private company in England and Wales.
The Company completed an initial round of pre-IPO funding, raising US$1.25 billion.
2019:
Telkom Kenya Limited (“Telkom Kenya”), the third-largest MNO in Kenya, announced its intention to transfer its mobile operations, enterprise, and carrier business to Airtel Kenya, the Group’s operating subsidiary in Kenya.
Airtel Africa is listed on the London and Nigerian stock exchanges.