Telkom, South Africa’s third-largest mobile operator, reported a 10.2% increase in mobile service revenue, a major driver of its 3.3% group revenue increase for the financial year ended on March 31 2025.
The telecom says this growth was fueled by strong subscriber expansion, with 13.4%, nearly three million new mobile users joining its network, bringing its total customer base to 23.2 million. The surge was driven largely by prepaid customers, who grew by 15.4%.
“The mobile business continues to be the star of the consumer business,” said Telkom Group CEO Serame Taukobong. “This was driven by strong subscriber growth coinciding with maintaining ARPU (average revenue per user) at R60 (over $3), said Taukobong.
The financial results show that a push to enhance mobile data services also led to a 19.5% increase in mobile data subscribers, totalling 15.2 million, as demand for affordable, high-speed connectivity surged nationwide.
Telkom optimised its pricing models, attracting more users in non-metro regions, where demand for affordable connectivity is growing.
Telkom’s wholesale arm, Openserve is playing a pivotal role in cross-border infrastructure integration. Through partnerships with global players like Google, Openserve is expanding terrestrial and undersea cable routes that reach deeper into Southern Africa. A new international point of presence linking South Africa to Angola and Brazil is underway, part of a larger effort to diversify and secure African connectivity pathways against disruptions.
Fibre-related data revenue grew by 10%, with fibre-based services which has been growing over the years and now constituting 82% of Openserve’s total revenue. Telkom’s fibre connectivity footprint grew by 13.3%, passing nearly 1.4 million homes—a model that could be replicated in emerging urban centres across the continent through strategic partnerships.
Telcom says it is investing heavily in 4G/5G infrastructure and edge data capabilities to power next-generation “Everything-as-a-Service” (XaaS) models—customisable digital solutions for African enterprises and governments.
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