Bharti Airtel Q1FY26 Overview

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel Ltd has reported a strong 43% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit, reaching ₹5,948 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 (Q1FY26). This marks the company’s fifth consecutive profitable quarter, signaling continued operational strength.

However, the numbers came in below market expectations, with analysts having projected a net profit of around ₹8,169 crore, according to a Moneycontrol poll.

“Despite the solid YoY growth, the profit fell short of estimates and declined 46% sequentially.”

Revenue Sees Strong Growth, ARPU Climbs to ₹250

Bharti Airtel’s revenue from operations rose significantly by 28% YoY to ₹49,463 crore, up from ₹38,506 crore in Q1FY25. This growth reflects strong demand across mobile, broadband, and digital segments.

“The average revenue per user (ARPU) — a key metric for telecom companies — improved to ₹250, up from ₹211 in the same quarter last year.”

The company’s total customer base also expanded by 6.6% YoY, reaching 436 million users.

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Operational Highlights: Mobile & Homes Business Shine

• India mobile business grew 2.9% sequentially, driven by portfolio premiumisation and an extra day in the quarter.

• Airtel’s smartphone user base grew by 21.3 million YoY, with 77% of its mobile users now on smartphones.

• Mobile data consumption surged 21.6% annually, with average monthly usage per user at 26.9 GB.

• Airtel added 0.7 million postpaid users, taking that segment to 26.6 million subscribers.

To boost network quality, ~1,800 new towers and ~7,500 mobile broadband sites were added this quarter.

“We delivered another quarter of consistent growth. Our digital network now serves over 600 million customers across India and Africa,” said Gopal Vittal, Vice-Chairman and MD of Bharti Airtel.

Homes Business Hits Lifetime High in Customer Adds

Airtel’s Homes segment posted robust 25.7% YoY revenue growth, adding a record 939,000 new Wi-Fi customers — the highest ever in a single quarter. Its home broadband user base now stands at 11 million.

The company also expanded its fiber network by 1.6 million home passes, strengthening its position in the broadband market.

“Our Homes business achieved lifetime-high additions and 7.6% sequential revenue growth,” Vittal added.

Enterprise & Digital TV Performance

While consumer-facing segments performed well, the Airtel Business segment saw a 7.7% YoY revenue dip. The company attributed this to strategic exits from low-margin contracts, prioritizing high-quality, sustainable revenue.

In the Digital TV segment, revenue stood at ₹763 crore with a 15.7 million customer base. Airtel’s IPTV service, launched last quarter, added 0.65 million users, indicating early traction.

Key Numbers at a Glance:

• Net Profit (YoY): ₹5,948 crore (↑43%)

• Revenue (YoY): ₹49,463 crore (↑28%)

• ARPU: ₹250 (vs ₹211 YoY)

• Customer Base: 436 million (↑6.6%)

• Home Broadband Users: 11 million

• Postpaid Subscribers: 26.6 million

• Mobile Data Usage: 26.9 GB/user/month

What Lies Ahead

While Bharti Airtel continues to show steady growth in user metrics and revenues, the profit miss may weigh on short-term investor sentiment. That said, the company’s focus on network expansion, high-quality customer additions, and digital innovation sets the stage for long-term resilience.

“Our balance sheet continues to demonstrate strength, supported by solid cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation,” noted Vittal.

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