Bharti Airtel’s recent quarterly results reveal robust growth driven by African expansion, rising ARPU, and a richer customer mix, signalling sustained momentum amid anticipated tariff hikes and industry premiumisation.
Bharti Airtel’s latest quarterly performance pointed to a business still benefiting from pricing power, richer customer mix and steady demand for data-heavy plans. According to Business Standard, the telecom group posted consolidated revenue growth of 18.4% year on year and 5.7% quarter on quarter, while operating profit rose 19.6% from a year earlier and 5.8% from the previous quarter. Margins widened modestly to 56.9%, helped by the India wireless arm. Business Standard also said the Africa division was the main driver of the stronger sequential showing, with other operations rising at a more modest pace.
In India, revenue rose 3.6% from the March quarter, supported by average revenue per user of ₹263.9, up 2.6% from the previous quarter. The company’s subscriber base increased to 376.5 million, with overall additions of 3.3 million. Postpaid net additions of 1 million marked Airtel’s best quarterly performance in more than 13 quarters, underscoring the value of higher-spending customers. Business Standard reported that the gains were helped by postpaid growth and a richer mix of 5G users.
Analysts remain upbeat on the outlook, with HSBC Research expecting Airtel’s mobile ARPU to keep rising as customers move to higher data plans and the industry prepares for another tariff increase. The brokerage sees a possible hike in the first quarter of calendar 2027 and forecasts mobile ARPU reaching ₹310 by FY28, according to Business Standard. JM Financial Research also lifted its operating profit estimates for FY27 to FY29, pointing to stronger African performance and arguing that tariff increases and premiumisation should support industry ARPU growth of about 12% a year over FY26 to FY29.
Africa continues to be an important earnings engine. Airtel said its African subscriber base reached 189 million, up 11.6% from a year earlier, while ARPU climbed 16% to $2.70 a month. That helped revenue jump 45.6% and operating profit rise 52% year on year. JM Financial said the combination of regular tariff hikes, the government’s preference for a three-plus-one player market and the need for telecom groups to improve returns on heavy 5G investment could keep Airtel’s earnings momentum intact.
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