Bharti Airtel Q1 profit rises 11.5% on higher ARPU, steady subscriber growth
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Bharti Airtel reported an 11.5% sequential rise in consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 30, driven by sustained growth in its India business, higher average revenue per user (ARPU) and continued momentum in its digital and Africa operations.
The telecom major posted a consolidated net profit of ₹8,167 crore for the June quarter, compared with ₹7,325 crore in the preceding quarter. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 5.7% to ₹58,539 crore from ₹55,383.2 crore, while operational EBITDA increased 4.8% to ₹33,599 crore from ₹32,038 crore. EBITDA margin stood at 57.4%, compared with 57.8% in the March quarter.
India business continues to drive growth
Airtel said its India business remained resilient during the quarter, supported by healthy customer additions and continued premiumisation of its subscriber base.
India mobile revenues rose sequentially as ARPU improved to ₹251 from ₹245 in the previous quarter, indicating the full-quarter impact of tariff revisions and continued migration of customers to higher-value plans. The company also added 7.6 million smartphone customers during the quarter, while its 4G/5G customer base continued to expand.
Homes and Business segments also maintained healthy momentum, with Airtel continuing to expand its broadband footprint and enterprise offerings.
Strong operational performance
The company reported operational EBITDA of ₹33,599 crore, with margins remaining above 57%, underscoring continued operating efficiency despite ongoing investments in network expansion and customer acquisition. Airtel said it maintained disciplined cost management across businesses while continuing to invest in future growth.
Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Airtel, said the company delivered another quarter of consistent execution across its portfolio.
"The India business continues to deliver sustained growth powered by premiumisation, strong customer additions and continued investments in our network and digital capabilities," he said. "We remain focused on providing the best customer experience while driving long-term value creation."
Africa, digital businesses support momentum
Airtel Africa continued to contribute to the group's overall performance through customer growth and increasing data adoption, while the company's digital businesses maintained steady traction during the quarter. The company said its balance sheet remained strong, providing flexibility to invest in network infrastructure and emerging growth opportunities.
Shares of Bharti Airtel ended 0.40% higher at ₹1,970.10 apiece on the NSE on Tuesday, ahead of the earnings announcement. The stock has gained nearly 3% over the past year, outperforming the benchmark Nifty 50 index that has slipped almost 0.5% during the same period.