Airtel’s Q2 Profit Rises 31% to ₹8,888 Crore as Revenue Grows 16.7%

Synopsis

Bharti Airtel's consolidated revenue for the September quarter rose 16.7% to ₹60,878 crore, while its net profit attributable to owners jumped by nearly 31%, to ₹8,888 crore. Average revenue per user (ARPU) increased to ₹271 from ₹256, while the customer base grew to 692.6 million. Other reports give varying profits, depending on minority interests and exceptional items.

Airtel's consolidated revenue grew by 16.7% year on year and 4.0% from the previous quarter to ₹60,878 crore. The consolidated EBITDA rose 17.8% to ₹35,240 crore and the margin widened to 57.9% from 57.4%. EBIT stood at ₹20,556 crore, a margin of 33.8%. Momentum was building up in India and Africa, the company said. India mobile service revenue increased by 10.1% and home revenue increased by 25.3%.

ARPU and customers

Average revenue per user increased to ₹271 in the period as compared to ₹256 in the previous quarter of the fiscal year. Customer base grew to 692.6 million. On smart phone data customers, Airtel recorded a growth of 2.9 million and 1.2 million net postpaid subscribers which was the best-ever result in that business, in management's own words.

Why the profit figures vary is a mystery

Profit reported is defined profit. Net profit attributable to owners was ₹8,888 crore, which is 30.9% higher than the previous year's figure of ₹6,792 crore. Net income excluding exceptional items was ₹9,015 crore, which is 32.7% higher than the previous year's amount of ₹6,792 crore.

This is a PTI report with a headline of ₹10,710 crore, up 24%—which seems to be on a different basis. As per one outlet, the revenue of ₹9,440.6 crore was reported. When comparing coverage, it is important to determine which one is being used. Some reports say that the headline profit was below the analyst estimate.

Airtel disclosed that it is putting money into increasing the size of its data centre operations, alongside the results. The company did not disclose its funding in detail in this material.

What to watch

The most important variables are tariff and ARPU progression, postpaid mix and home broadband growth speed. Africa is responsible for consolidated numbers, and for currency exposure. According to one report the stock has increased significantly over the last three years and the prospects are high. This trend of ARPU growth by quarters will be closely watched.

Revenue for the first half of 2026-27 reached ₹1,19,416.6 crore, up 18% from a year earlier. Analysts tend to focus on the trends in a telecom operator's reported profit, especially when it comes to the exceptional items and tax effects, so they tend to rely on EBITDA and ARPU.