Airtel Africa is positioning its mobile money platform, Airtel Money, to challenge Africa’s fintech giants through a planned initial public offering set for the first half of 2026, Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said in the company’s latest financial results.

The IPO will bolster Airtel Money’s ability to compete with dominant players like Safaricom’s M-Pesa and MTN’s MoMo in the continent’s rapidly growing fintech market.

The operator’s fintech unit, operating across 14 African countries including Nigeria, has grown its subscriber base by 17.3 per cent year-on-year to 44.6 million active users as of early 2025, according to the company’s first-quarter financial results.

The mobile money platform provides critical financial services to millions of unbanked users, enabling digital transactions, credit access, and remittances via mobile phones. This focus on financial inclusion aligns with Airtel Africa’s mission to drive economic prosperity and transform lives across its markets.

“We are making significant progress in our preparations for the Airtel Money IPO and remain committed to this objective,” Taldar said, underscoring the strategic importance of the listing.

He cautioned that the IPO remains subject to market conditions, adding, “Therefore, subject to these conditions, we anticipate a listing event in the first half of the calendar year 2026.”

The IPO is expected to raise capital to scale Airtel Money’s operations and sharpen its competitive edge. Safaricom’s M-Pesa, with 70 million users across Africa and a stronghold in Kenya, remains the market leader, while MTN’s MoMo commands 65 million active users, particularly in West and Central Africa.

However, MoMo’s Nigerian arm, MoMo PSB, saw a 55.6 per cent year-on-year decline in active wallets, dropping to 2.1 million in Q1 2025, a vulnerability Airtel’s fintech unit could capitalise on.

Airtel Money’s growth strategy hinges on leveraging its expanding user base and innovative services to close the gap with its rivals. The platform’s ability to empower underserved communities through accessible financial tools positions it as a key player in Africa’s fintech frontier.

Taldar emphasised the company’s broader vision, stating, “We will remain focused on delivering our strategy to transform the lives of our customers and support economic prosperity across our markets.”

Expressing gratitude to stakeholders, Taldar noted, “I want to say a particular thank-you to our customers, partners, governments, and regulators for their support and our employees for their unrelenting contribution to the business.” This collaborative effort underpins Airtel Africa’s confidence as it advances toward the 2026 IPO.