Airtel Africa eyes broadband and mobile money boost after bumper first half

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows customers and employees inside a mobile phone service centre operated by Kenyan telecom operator Airtel Kenya at the Sarit Centre within the Westlands district of Nairobi, Kenya January 29, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Airtel Africa expects a boost from growing demand for mobile broadband and phone-based financial services, its chief executive said on Thursday, after posting rapid growth in first-half earnings.

The telecoms firm, which operates in 14 African markets including Nigeria and Kenya, said revenue grew 27.6% on a constant currency basis in the six months to the end of September.