In the last 10 years, India has pulled off a digital transformation like no other.

From a mobile-first nation to a global tech powerhouse, we’ve seen phenomenal growth in digital connectivity and local manufacturing — all driven by bold policy moves and a clear vision to make India a top digital economy.

And guess what? India is now the third-most digitised country in the world — right behind the US and China. That’s no small feat.

At the heart of this revolution? Bharti Airtel.

In recent times, the company has garnered a lot of attention after it surpassed Tata group’s TCS in terms of market cap to become the 3rd most valuable company in India.

Bharti Airtel recently posted its Q1 results which prove that this leap is backed by solid numbers.

Let’s take a close look at Bharti Airtel’s Q1 earnings and what lies ahead for the company.

Bharti Airtel Q1 Results

Share price of Bharti Airtel gained 2% in early trade today after the telecom major posted impressive earnings for the quarter ended June 2025.

Bharti Airtel Share Price

About Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel is the second largest player in the Indian telecom sector. 

In India, the company provides 2G, 4G, and 5G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, home broadband and direct-to-home and enterprise (B2B) services.

In Africa, it operates in 14 countries and is one of the top three players in most of the geographies. 

Airtel’s International Market

Source: Investor Presentation

The company derives close to 57% of its revenue from India mobile, followed by 27% from Airtel Africa and 16% from DTH, broadband and other services it provides in India.

Bharti Airtel Revenue Split – FY25 Revenue Rs 172,985 Cr

Source: Investor Presentation

During FY25, the company’s shareholding in Indus Towers increased to 50% and effective November 2024, it has started reporting Indus Towers as one of its subsidiaries.

Bharti Airtel Q1 Results

For the quarter ended June 2025, billionaire Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel reported a larger-than-expected quarterly profit helped by a jump in 5G subscribers in India and higher mobile-phone charges in Nigeria.

During the quarter, the company’s quarterly revenue rose 18%, as the number of 4G and 5G users in the customer base rose 8.2%. 

Meanwhile, its average revenue per user, or ARPU, in India rose 2% to Rs 250. In tandem with its local rivals, Airtel had raised prices in July 2024 in India and the benefits are now petering out.

Bharti Airtel – Mobile Services India

Source: Press Release

Across its Indian and African operations, Airtel reported a total subscriber base of 605.49 million as of June 2025 – an increase of 2.5% sequentially.

Source: Press Release

The company’s Nigerian operations, its biggest market in Africa, has benefited from a price hike.

The robust earnings by Bharti Airtel depicts the benefits flowing after it completed the 5G roll out in the most-populous nation and from continuing addition of smartphone-using subscribers.

Bharti Airtel Q1FY26 Financial Snapshot 

Financial Highlights (Rs Cr)	June-24	Mar-25	June-25	YoY	QoQ	FY24	FY25	YoY
Total Revenue	41,860	47,876	49,462	18%	3%	164,364	181,511	10%
EBITDA	23,026	27,404	28,167	22%	3%	88,906	104,999	18%
Margin (%)	55.0%	57.2%	56.9%	–	–	54.1%	57.8%	–
Net Profit	4,255	11,022	5,948	40%	-46%	7,782	33,744	334%

Source: Company

Outlook After Q1 Results

While Airtel reported a marginal growth in its ARPU, it still remains below the Rs 300 threshold that Airtel has repeatedly flagged as vital to fund its growth plans as well as stay in good financial health.

Nevertheless, Bharti Airtel is expanding its service offerings to keep its high-paying users in India engaged.

Last month, it partnered artificial intelligence search engine Perplexity to offer free annual subscriptions of its premium service, Perplexity Pro – the first such pact for the US firm with an Indian wireless operator.

Further, it has partnered with Google to offer Google One subscriptions to Airtel Postpaid and Wi-Fi customers.

Source: Investor Presentation

Going forward, Bharti Airtel stands to benefit in what is largely a duopoly market, dominated by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

Its ARPU, a crucial metric for telecom players, has steadily risen over recent quarters.

There’s further room for tariff hikes as 5G adoption grows and market competition stabilizes.

While competition and regulatory factors remain key challenges, Airtel’s strong market position, digital expansion, and financial discipline position it well for sustained growth over the coming years.

Conclusion

In a sector that’s constantly evolving, Bharti Airtel has not just kept pace — it has led from the front.

As India embraces 5G and digital adoption touches new highs, Airtel finds itself at the heart of this transformation, shaping how India connects, communicates, and grows.

What makes this journey even more impressive is the company’s ability to balance aggressive expansion with financial discipline.

With a solid market position, diversified offerings, and sharp strategic execution, Airtel isn’t just ready for the future — it’s building it.

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