Woman with face mask standing outside Airtel store, holding a bag, in an urban setting.
Airtel Africa has postponed the planned initial public offering of its mobile money division, Airtel Money, to the second half of 2026 as global market volatility and rising operating costs weigh on the telecoms group. The company said disruptions linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran have tightened crude oil supplies and increased energy and logistics expenses worldwide, creating unfavorable conditions for a listing. Airtel Africa also warned that higher fuel and supply chain costs could pressure profit margins in the near term. Despite the delay, the company reported stronger-than-expected financial results for the year ending March 31, posting core earnings of $3.16 billion on revenue of $6.42 billion. The mobile money unit is the company’s third-largest business, accounting for 21.1% of total revenue. Airtel said growing demand for mobile services, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence powered the company’s strong performance.
Reuters