Bharti Airtel reports Q4 net profit of ₹759 crore

Bharti Airtel Ltd on Monday reported a March quarter profit of 759 crore from a loss of ₹5,237 crore a year ago, as it clocked higher revenues and one-time gains.

Consolidated revenue rose 17.6% from a year ago to ₹25,747 crore, while India business revenue rose 17.5% to ₹18,338 crore. Both consolidated revenue and profit trailed Bloomberg analysts’ poll estimates of ₹26,164.80 crore and ₹958.80 crore, respectively.

The company’s average revenue per user (Arpu) fell to ₹145 in the March quarter from ₹166 in October-December as the interconnect usage charge regime, which contributes 7-8% to telecom industry revenues, ended on 1 January. However, Airtel’s Arpu rose from ₹135 in the year-earlier period.