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Airtel Africa Plans to Launch Airtel Money in H1 2026
Airtel Africa plans to launch Airtel Money in H1 2026, marking a major milestone for the company as it prepares to take its mobile money business public. While the original plan was to list Airtel Money in 2025, the company has decided to push the launch to the first half of 2026, citing changes in the market and a need to ensure everything is ready for a successful debut.
Airtel Africa’s Airtel Money is already a big player in Africa’s mobile money sector, operating in 14 countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The service has seen impressive growth, with the value of transactions handled by Airtel Money jumping by 33.3% in 2024, reaching a total of $146 billion for the year. The number of customers also grew by 18.3% to 44.3 million users, showing just how popular mobile money has become across the continent.
Airtel Africa Plc. plans to take its mobile money arm public in the first half of 2026, with the goal of unlocking more value for shareholders and attracting new investment. The money raised from the listing will help Airtel Money expand its digital financial services, making it easier for people across Africa to access banking and payment services, especially in areas where traditional banks are scarce. This move is part of a wider push to increase financial inclusion in Africa, where millions of people still lack access to basic banking.
The company’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, has made it clear that preparations for the Airtel Money IPO are well underway. “We are making significant progress in our preparations for the Airtel Money IPO and remain committed to this objective,” he said. However, he also noted that the company is keeping a close eye on market conditions, which is why the launch has been postponed to 2026.
Airtel Africa to Launch Airtel Money in H1 2026 comes at a time when the company is facing increased scrutiny from regulators. Authorities in Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi are investigating complaints about unclear pricing and currency conversion practices. In early 2025, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission also launched a probe into Airtel Money’s pricing, saying that some practices may not give consumers enough information to make informed choices.
The delay in the IPO reflects a cautious approach taken by many fintech companies in Africa, as they deal with both rapid growth and stricter regulations. The region’s digital financial services sector is maturing, and companies like Airtel Africa must now balance the need to scale up with the need to follow the rules and protect consumers.
Airtel Africa’s Airtel Money is expected to become even more important as the demand for mobile money services continues to grow. The planned IPO will give Airtel Money more independence and visibility, helping it compete with major rivals like Safaricom’s M-Pesa and MTN’s MoMo. By going public, Airtel Money hopes to attract more investment and expand its reach, especially in countries like Nigeria, where recent changes in regulations have opened up new opportunities for mobile money providers.
Airtel Africa’s plan to launch Airtel Money in H1 2026 is a big step forward for the company and for financial inclusion in Africa. The IPO will help Airtel Money grow, attract new investors, and play a leading role in the continent’s fast-changing digital payments market. As the sector continues to evolve, Airtel Africa’s Airtel Money is set to be at the heart of Africa’s fintech revolution.
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