Airtel Africa is winding down its Kenyan wholesale fibre and internet subsidiary, Airtel Kenya Telesonic Limited, after the company recorded losses and generated no revenue for two consecutive years.
The decision makes Kenya the latest African market where Airtel has exited or scaled back an underperforming asset as the telecommunications group focuses investment on its stronger markets.
Airtel Kenya Telesonic reported a net loss of KES16.1 million, about $124,000, in 2025, up from KES2.9 million, about $22,400, the previous year, according to financial statements filed by Bharti Airtel.
The subsidiary had accumulated losses of KES19.08 million against total assets of only KES284,275 by the end of 2025, prompting its directors to conclude that the business could no longer continue as a going concern.
The company also reported zero revenue in both 2024 and 2025.
Airtel Kenya Telesonic filed a notice in late 2025 to surrender its Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 licence to the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The regulator approved the shutdown, while the Registrar of Companies is processing the subsidiary’s deregistration.
The company is expected to be removed from Kenya’s corporate register by December 2026.
The subsidiary was launched in February 2024 as part of Airtel Africa’s broader wholesale data strategy, using the group’s terrestrial fibre network and its investment in the 2Africa submarine cable system.
Its Kenyan operation, however, struggled to establish a viable business in a market where Safaricom, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Seacom and other operators already have established fibre infrastructure and wholesale connectivity businesses.
The shutdown follows other asset exits by Airtel in Africa.
In 2021, Airtel transferred its stake in Ghana’s AirtelTigo to the Ghanaian government for a nominal sum after writing off its investment in the joint venture.
The company also agreed that year to sell its tower portfolios in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers for a combined $108 million.
The Madagascar transaction was completed in November 2021, while the Malawi deal, involving 723 sites, was completed in March 2022 for $55 million.
Airtel’s strategy has generally been to reduce exposure to markets and business lines where it has struggled to compete and redirect resources towards operations with stronger growth prospects.
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Nigeria, for example, remains Airtel Africa’s largest market by revenue.
Airtel Nigeria Telesonic obtained National Long Distance, Internet Service Provider and Sales & Installation Major licences from the Nigerian Communications Commission in 2024 and currently offers wholesale connectivity services to businesses.
The Nigerian operation provides products including dedicated internet access, international private leased circuits, and voice and SMS termination services.
Nigeria contributed 24 per cent of Airtel Africa’s group revenue in the first half of 2025, while revenue from the market rose to $1.59 billion for the financial year ended March 2026.
Airtel Africa’s profit after tax also more than doubled to $813 million during the financial year.
The company has not announced plans to shut down Telesonic operations in its other African markets. The brand remains active in countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Kenyan subsidiary’s accounts were audited by Deloitte & Touche, which issued an unqualified opinion but noted that the financial statements were prepared on a liquidation basis because of the planned wind-down.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
