M-KOPA, a UK-based fintech, sold 1.3 million smartphones across Africa in 2025, according to its latest Global Impact Report. The milestone reflects the company’s effort to widen digital access through pay-as-you-go financing, with nearly half of buyers acquiring their first smartphone through the platform.
The company said 42% of its customers were first-time smartphone users, rising to 45% among women. Since 2020, M-KOPA has sold 6.4 million devices and disbursed more than $2 billion in credit to over 7 million customers across its five markets — Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. Its active customer base reached 3 million in 2025.
M-KOPA’s financing model allows customers to pay in installments aligned with their income flows. The firm bundles smartphones with affordable data, device protection, and embedded financial services. According to CEO Jesse Moore, nine out of ten customers say the service improves their lives, with 70% using devices to generate income.
Despite this growth, Africa still faces the world’s largest mobile usage gap. GSMA data shows that 60% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa remains offline due to affordability barriers. In this context, M-KOPA’s scale matters, but the gap highlights the need for broader industry and policy solutions.
The company also operates a smartphone assembly plant in Nairobi that produced more than 2 million devices in 2025 and employs over 400 workers. Local assembly is aimed at cutting costs, creating jobs, and reducing emissions from imports. M-KOPA employs more than 2,000 full-time staff and a sales agent network of 35,000 across the continent.
M-KOPA’s expansion coincides with rising competition. Telecom operators such as Safaricom, MTN, and Airtel, as well as e-commerce platforms like Jumia, have launched similar installment-based financing schemes. Analysts warn that while the credit model increases access, it may also expose low-income customers to debt risks if economic conditions tighten.
Beyond smartphones, M-KOPA has expanded its portfolio to include insurance, digital financial services, and electric mobility. By positioning itself as a fintech-telco hybrid, the company is betting on recurring revenue streams and stronger customer engagement. Its 2025 results highlight both the opportunities and the structural challenges of Africa’s digital transformation.
Cc: Hikmatu Bilali
