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Informist, Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 

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--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol net profit INR 73.25 bln 
--Analysts saw Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol net profit at INR 74.29 bln 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol revenue INR 553.83 bln 
--Analysts saw Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol revenue at INR 552.90 bln 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol PAT INR 73.25 bln vs INR 66.31 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India mobile ARPU INR 257 vs INR 259 qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol sales INR 553.83 bln vs INR 539.82 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol EBITDA INR 320.38 bln vs INR 311.44 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol EBITDA margin 57.8% vs 57.7% qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar net profit includes one-time cost INR 31.61 bln 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol EBIT INR 181.56 bln vs INR 176.54 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol EBIT margin 32.8% vs 32.7% qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar profit excluding exceptional items INR 104.86 bln 
--Bharti Airtel Q4 one-time cost due to charge for regulatory, govt levies 
--Bharti Airtel to pay INR 24 per share final dividend 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India revenue INR 395.66 bln vs INR 392.26 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel FY26 consol PAT INR 266.95 bln vs INR 335.56 bln yr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India EBITDA INR 239.65 bln vs INR 236.76 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel FY26 consol sales INR 2.11 tln vs INR 1.73 tln yr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India EBITDA margin 60.6% vs 60.4% qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India EBIT INR 127.62 bln vs INR 125.92 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India EBIT margin 32.3% vs 32.1% qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India capex INR 134.88 bln vs INR 92.50 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India capex $1.47 bln vs $1.04 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar consol capex INR 160.66 bln vs INR 117.87 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel consol customer base 665.97 mln Mar 31 vs 645.31 mln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel net debt INR 1.65 tln on Mar 31 vs INR 1.83 tln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar Africa sales $1.75 bln vs $1.69 bln qtr ago 
--Bharti Airtel Jan-Mar India mobile revenue INR 288.31 bln, up 0.6% on qtr 
 

 

By Shakshi Jain

 

NEW DELHI – Telecommunications major Bharti Airtel Ltd. Wednesday posted a lower-than-expected bottom line for the March quarter, owing to a one-time charge on account of regulatory and government levies. It, however, grew sequentially in double digits after a marginal decline in the trailing quarter. The top line of the company grew sequentially for the eighth consecutive quarter in Jan-Mar, beating the Street's expectation by a comfortable margin. 

 

The Nifty 50 company's consolidated net profit for the reporting quarter rose over 10% sequentially to INR 73.25 billion. On a year-on-year basis, the metric was down almost 34%. In the absence of the net one-time charge of INR 31.61 billion, the company's bottom line for the quarter would have been around INR 104.86 billion, not accounting for the change in tax. Analysts had pegged the company's consolidated net profit for the quarter under review at INR 74.29 billion.

 

"During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, based on re-assessment and updated demands received, the Group has recognised a charge of Rs. 31,607 million on account of regulatory and government levies and corresponding deferred tax asset of Rs. 1,402 million on certain items," Bharti Airtel said in the notes to the audited consolidated financial results.

 

The bottom line of the company received help from a deferred tax reversal of INR 13.52 billion for the reporting quarter.

 

On the revenue front, the company reported 2.6% sequential growth and a near-16% year-on-year rise at INR 553.83 billion for the reporting quarter. Analysts had estimated the top line for Jan-Mar at INR 552.90 billion.  

 

The revenue growth in the March quarter was "driven by sustained growth in India and robust performance in Africa," the company said in a press release.

 

The telecom giant's consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation for the March quarter improved to INR 320.38 billion from INR 311.44 billion in the previous quarter. Consequently, the consolidated EBITDA margin of the company expanded by 10 basis points on quarter to 57.8%. The company's consolidated earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, for the quarter stood at INR 181.56 billion for Jan-Mar, up from INR 176.54 billion in the trailing three months. Its consolidated EBIT margin recorded a 10-basis-point sequential improvement in the quarter to 32.8%.

 

On the other hand, total expenses of the company rose 3% sequentially and over 14% on year in Jan-Mar to INR 238.92 billion. Network operating expenses, which make up the largest share in the company's expenditure pie, rose 3.3% quarter-on-quarter to INR 102.08 billion. Costs tied to licence fee and spectrum changes grew 3.5% from the December quarter to INR 39.82 billion.

 

Bharti Airtel's India mobile average reveue per user declined by INR 2 to INR 257 in Jan-Mar. The company's total customer base grew 3.2% sequentially to include 665.97 million users as of Mar. 31. "We added 5.8 million smartphone customers and 0.8 million postpaid customers, underscoring our focus on quality customers and portfolio premiumisation," Executive Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal said in a press release.

 

Bharti Airtel incurred a consolidated capital expenditure of INR 160.66 in the March quarter, up from INR 117.87 billion registered for Oct-Dec. On the other hand, its consolidated net debt moderated to INR 1.65 trillion in the reporting quarter from INR 1.83 trillion in the previous quarter. 

 

SEGMENT SHOW

Revenue from the company's India mobile services segment rose 0.6% sequentially to INR 288.31 billion in the March quarter. It accounted for 52% of the company's total revenue for the quarter. Overall, Bharti Airtel's India revenue improved to INR 395.66 billion in Jan-Mar from INR 392.26 billion in the trailing three months. 

 

The telecom giant's India EBITDA improved to INR 239.65 billion in the quarter under review from INR 236.76 billion in Oct-Dec. Its India EBITDA margin expanded by 20 basis points sequentially to 60.6%. On the EBIT front, the India business recorded a marginal sequential improvement at INR 127.62 billion in Jan-Mar, with the margin logging a 20 basis point expansion at 32.3%.

 

Bharti Airtel incurred capital expenditure of INR 134.88 billion for its India business during the quarter, up from INR 92.50 billion in Oct-Dec. In dollar terms, the figure was $1.47 billion, compared to $1.04 billion in the December quarter.

 

The Africa mobile services segment contributed INR 160.34 billion to the company's overall top line for the March quarter, up nearly 7% on quarter. In dollar terms, the total revenue from Africa added up to $1.75 billion, up from $1.69 billion in the previous quarter.

 

Among other segments, Airtel Business contributed INR 54.90 billion in Jan-Mar, up nearly 3% quarter-on-quarter. The homes services business added INR 21.91 billion to the company's kitty in the reporting quarter, marking a near 10% sequential growth. The passive infrastructure services business of the company contributed INR 82.01 billion in revenue for the March quarter, up from INR 81.80 billion in the trailing quarter.

 

For 2025-26 (Apr-Mar), the company reported a consolidated net profit of INR 266.95 billion, down over 20% on year. Meanwhile, revenue for the same period rose almost 22% on year to INR 2.11 trillion.

 

The company's board has recommended final dividend of INR 24 per share for FY26. On Wednesday, shares of the company ended at INR 1,789.20 on the National Stock Exchange, up 1.8% from the previous close. The company announced its March-quarter and full-year results post market hours.  End

 

US$1 = INR 95.71

 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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