Gopal Vittal, Vice- Chairman and MD of Airtel, said Bharti Airtel is focusing on premiumization to drive higher ARPU, expanding its network infrastructure with 19,900 new towers and 44,400 km of fiber in FY 2025.
Total Capex of Bharti Airtel for the quarter was Rs 14,401 crore. India Capex for the quarter was Rs 12,553 crore. In India, customer base was ~424 million. Africa Capex for the quarter was Rs 1,848 crore. In Africa, customer base was 166 million.
Airtel has launched IPTV services across 2,000 cities and partnered with Apple to offer Apple TV+ and Apple Music, targeting high-value customers. Airtel’s Homes business grew 21.3 percent through aggressive broadband expansion, adding 812,000 FWA customers and 2 million home passes.
While Airtel Business scaled down low-margin wholesale services, it maintained strong growth in enterprise solutions. This strategy positions Airtel to capture market share while enhancing customer experience and profitability.
Strategy
Bharti Airtel has adopted a multi-faceted strategy aimed at strengthening its market position, enhancing customer experience, and driving revenue growth. The key components of Airtel’s strategy include:
Premiumization of Services: Airtel continues to focus on acquiring high-value customers and driving higher ARPU through premium offerings, such as postpaid plans, Apple TV+ streaming services, and Apple Music through strategic partnerships with Apple.
Network Expansion: Airtel has aggressively expanded its network footprint by installing 3,300 towers and 13,600 mobile broadband stations in Q4 FY 2025. Over the fiscal year, the company added 19,900 towers and deployed 44,400 km of fiber to enhance connectivity and support data growth.
IPTV Launch: Airtel launched IPTV services across 2,000 cities in India, excluding Delhi, Rajasthan, Assam, and the northeastern states where the launch is expected soon. This move is aimed at capitalizing on the growing demand for high-quality home entertainment services.
Broadband Expansion: Airtel’s Homes business has seen significant customer growth, driven by the addition of 812,000 FWA customers and 2 million home passes. The strategy focuses on expanding broadband services to underserved markets.
Portfolio Optimization: Airtel Business is undergoing portfolio optimization, moving away from low-margin global wholesale commodity voice and messaging services, while focusing on higher-margin enterprise solutions.
Customer Growth
Airtel has achieved notable growth across various customer segments:
Mobile Segment: Airtel’s mobile customer base expanded significantly, with the addition of 0.6 million postpaid customers, bringing the total postpaid customer base to 25.9 million as of March 2025. The company also added 24 million smartphone customers, marking a 9.5 percent increase year-on-year.
Broadband Segment: Airtel’s Homes business reported a 21.3 percent revenue increase, driven by robust customer acquisitions. The broadband network now serves 10 million FWA customers and has added 2 million new home passes in Q4.
Digital TV: Digital TV revenue reached Rs 764 crore with a customer base of 15.9 million. The company continues to focus on providing premium content and value-added services to its subscribers.
Achievements
Airtel’s strategic initiatives and customer-centric focus have led to several notable achievements:
Financial Performance: Airtel’s revenue for Q4 FY 2025 stood at Rs 47,876 crore, reflecting a 27.3 percent year-on-year growth and a 6.1 percent sequential increase. The EBITDA for the quarter was Rs 27,404 crore, with a margin of 57.2 percent.
Industry-Leading ARPU: Airtel maintained an industry-leading ARPU of Rs 245 in Q4 FY 2025, up from Rs 209 in Q4 FY 2024, driven by premiumization and tariff changes.
Strategic Partnerships: The partnership with Apple to offer Apple TV+ streaming and Apple Music to Airtel customers positions the company to attract high-value subscribers and enhance customer loyalty.
Network Infrastructure Expansion: Airtel’s extensive infrastructure investment in towers, fiber, and mobile broadband stations aims to deliver superior network quality and increase data consumption.
IPTV Expansion: The launch of IPTV services across 2,000 cities strengthens Airtel’s position in the home entertainment segment, allowing it to capitalize on the growing demand for digital content.
Overall, Airtel’s focused strategy, extensive network expansion, and customer-centric approach have positioned it well to sustain growth and profitability in the highly competitive Indian telecom market.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
