Introduction

Airtel Africa has appointed Goriola Bakare as Home Broadband Experience Lead, effective October 1, 2026, marking an important step toward scaling fixed connectivity across the continent. The appointment follows a period of rapid subscriber expansion and comes as the telco broadens its focus beyond mobile data services.

What Happened

Airtel Africa named Goriola Bakare to the newly created role of Home Broadband Experience Lead, effective October 1, 2026. Bakare previously led Airtel Nigeria's home broadband business and completed a six-month secondment to Bharti Airtel in India. During the 2025/26 financial year, the company ended with 903000 home broadband customers, an 86% increase year-on-year, while home broadband revenue grew 119% in constant currency and average monthly usage reached 195GB per customer.

Why This Matters

The home broadband segment is becoming a central pillar of Airtel Africas growth strategy as the company expands beyond traditional mobile data services. With Nigerias smartphone penetration rising to 54.9%, the company is investing in fibre and 5G infrastructure, expanding sales channels, and digitising customer onboarding and service delivery. Bakares cross-market experience spanning Nigeria, a senior stint in India, and prior roles at Airtel and earlier in financial services positions him to standardise commercial practices, improve digital customer journeys, and build a scalable framework for broadband retention and acquisition across Airtel Africas operating companies.

Key Takeaways

  • Goriola Bakare appointed Home Broadband Experience Lead at Airtel Africa, effective October 1, 2026
  • 903000 home broadband customers across the continent, up 86% year-on-year
  • Home broadband revenue grew 119% in constant currency during the 2025/26 financial year
  • Average monthly data usage per customer reached 195GB
  • Nigerias smartphone penetration climbed to 54.9%, from 49.6% the prior year
  • Bakares background includes roles at Airtel Nigeria, a six-month India secondment, and earlier stints at Skye Bank and Pacific Holdings
  • The group is investing in fibre and 5G infrastructure, digitising onboarding, and standardising commercial models to sustain growth

Conclusion

Airtel Africas latest appointment signals a deliberate effort to professionalise and scale its home broadband business. With strong subscriber gains, rising usage figures, and a veteran executive at the helm, the telco is positioning fixed connectivity as a core revenue driver. Bakares cross-market perspective and operational experience will be key to translating that momentum into a consistent group-wide customer experience.