Airtel’s Q2 Triumph: Profit Soars 89% to ₹6,792 Crore, ARPU Hits ₹256 Amid 26% Revenue Surge
Festive Demand and Premiumization Drive Record Earnings; Shares Up 30% in a Year as Telecom Giant Outpaces Rivals
Bharti Airtel delivered a blockbuster performance in the second quarter of FY26 (July-September 2025), with consolidated net profit exploding 89% year-on-year to ₹6,792 crore, surpassing analyst estimates and signaling robust recovery in the telecom sector. Announced on November 3, 2025, the results highlight the company’s strategic push towards premium users and 5G adoption, resulting in a 26% revenue jump to ₹52,145 crore. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) climbed to a record ₹256, up from ₹233 a year ago, underscoring Airtel’s success in monetizing its subscriber base amid festive demand and market share gains. Airtel’s shares, reflecting investor enthusiasm, have risen 30% over the past year, closing at ₹2,054 on November 2, ahead of the earnings reveal.
Revenue Breakdown: India and Africa Lead the Charge
Airtel’s consolidated revenue from operations surged 25.7% YoY and 5.4% QoQ to ₹52,145 crore, driven by strong contributions from its core markets. In India, mobility revenue grew 24.7% to ₹30,057 crore, fueled by a 22.2 million increase in smartphone data users over the past year (8.4% YoY) and 26.6% higher data consumption at 28.3 GB per customer per month. The homes business added 951,000 customers, pushing its base to 11.9 million and delivering 30.2% YoY revenue growth.
Africa operations shone with 7.1% constant currency revenue growth, while Airtel Business saw a 4.3% QoQ uptick. EBITDA leaped 35.9% YoY to ₹29,919 crore, with margins expanding to 57.4%, reflecting operational efficiencies and premiumisation efforts. Capital expenditure totaled ₹11,362 crore, with India accounting for ₹9,643 crore, primarily for 5G rollout.
| Key Financial Metrics | Q2 FY26 | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Net Profit | ₹6,792 Cr | +89% |
| Revenue | ₹52,145 Cr | +25.7% |
| EBITDA | ₹29,919 Cr | +35.9% |
| ARPU (India) | ₹256 | +9.9% |
| Customer Base (India) | 449.7 Mn | +10.6% |
Source: Bharti Airtel Q2 FY26 Earnings Release
ARPU Surge: Premium Push Pays Off
Airtel’s ARPU of ₹256 outpaced rival Jio’s ₹233, marking a 9.9% YoY increase and highlighting the efficacy of its premiumisation strategy. The company added 0.95 million postpaid subscribers quarterly, growing the base to 27.5 million, while smartphone penetration rose amid 5G expansions. Vice Chairman and MD Gopal Vittal noted, “We have further strengthened our position in the postpaid segment with robust customer additions.” This, coupled with tariff hikes and value-added services like free 12-month Perplexity Pro subscriptions for mobile, homes, and DTH users, bolstered monetization.
Share Performance: 30% Annual Rally
Airtel’s stock has been a standout, climbing 30% over the past year to ₹2,054 as of November 2, 2025, trading near its 52-week high. The pre-earnings dip of 0.5% reflected caution, but results triggered a 2-3% intraday gain, pushing the market cap above ₹12 lakh crore. Analysts from Kotak Institutional Equities maintain a ‘Buy’ rating with a ₹2,300 target, citing ARPU tailwinds and Africa growth. Net debt fell 5% YoY to ₹1,94,713 crore, enhancing balance sheet health.
Strategic Initiatives: Beyond the Numbers
Airtel launched ‘Airtel Cloud’, a sovereign telco-grade platform via its subsidiary Xtelify, targeting enterprise needs. Cybersecurity efforts reduced financial cybercrime losses by 68.7% on its network. Total customer base grew 10.7% YoY to 623.5 million, with India at 449.7 million. Vittal emphasized, “Africa delivered another quarter of standout performance,” with 7.1% constant currency growth.
Conclusion: A Telecom Powerhouse in Ascendancy
Airtel’s Q2 FY26 results affirm its leadership in India’s hyper-competitive telecom landscape, with an 89% profit surge and ARPU milestone painting a picture of sustained momentum. As shares rally 30% annually, the focus on premium services, 5G, and international expansion positions Airtel for long-term value creation. Amid economic headwinds, this performance reassures investors of the company’s resilience, setting the stage for a transformative FY26. Telecom’s future in India looks connected and profitable.
