Ugandans Ditch Voice Calls as Data Becomes King of Telecom Revenues

Ugandan consumers are spending less on voice calls and more on internet bundles, marking a major shift in the country’s telecom sector, according to Airtel Uganda’s latest financial results.

The half-year report ending June 30, 2025, shows that data revenues jumped by 30.4% and now contribute nearly half of Airtel’s total service revenues—a position long dominated by voice calls. The change highlights how Ugandans are rapidly transitioning into a data-first economy.

A few years ago, telecom companies relied heavily on voice calls for income. But as internet adoption deepens, demand for affordable data bundles has overtaken traditional airtime.

Airtel’s data subscribers grew by 25.9% to 7.5 million, while average monthly consumption rose by 22.6% to almost 6GB per user.

This surge in demand has created heavy traffic on networks, with Airtel recording a 57.4% rise in overall usage.

To keep pace, the company has accelerated its infrastructure rollout, adding 176 new 4G sites, 150 more 5G sites, and nearly 1,800km of fibre in just six months.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has also observed a similar trend, noting that mobile internet subscriptions are closing in on the number of smartphone users nationwide.

Airtel alone reports 39.9% smartphone penetration on its network, boosted by device financing schemes that are putting more handsets in the hands of ordinary Ugandans.

The result is clear: internet bundles have become the new “airtime,” with digital consumption shaping Uganda’s telecom future.