Bharti Airtel reported consolidated revenue of ₹60,877.5 crore for the September 2026 quarter, an increase of 17 percent year on year, supported by growth in mobile services, broadband, enterprise digital solutions and African operations. The telecom operator increased its global customer base to 692.58 million, while India mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to ₹271.
Airtel’s consolidated capital expenditure (Capex) increased 10 percent to ₹12,466.8 crore from ₹11,362.3 crore a year earlier. The company continued investing in mobile connectivity, home broadband, enterprise digital services and data center infrastructure.
Airtel Revenue Growth Across India and Africa
Bharti Airtel’s India and South Asia business, including passive infrastructure services, generated revenue of ₹42,307.9 crore, compared with ₹38,690.1 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2025, representing growth of 9.3 percent.
The African business reported revenue of ₹18,816.5 crore, increasing 37.6 percent from ₹13,679.5 crore a year earlier in rupee terms.
Airtel’s consolidated revenue for the first six months of FY2027 reached ₹119,416.6 crore, an increase of 18 percent year on year.
India mobile services remained a major revenue contributor, generating ₹30,943.1 crore during the September quarter, representing 10.1 percent annual growth.
Airtel Business reported revenue of ₹5,877.9 crore, up 11.4 percent from ₹5,276 crore, supported by enterprise connectivity and digital services.
The Digital TV business, including IPTV, generated revenue of ₹771.3 crore, compared with ₹753.2 crore in the year-earlier quarter.
Airtel Subscribers Reach 692.58 Million
Bharti Airtel’s consolidated customer base increased 11.1 percent year on year to 692.58 million at the end of September 2026, compared with 623.55 million a year earlier.
India and South Asia accounted for 498.69 million customers, representing 10.9 percent annual growth, while Africa contributed 193.89 million customers, up 11.6 percent.
Airtel’s India mobile subscriber base reached 377.22 million, increasing 3.6 percent from 364.19 million a year earlier.
The operator added approximately 716,000 net mobile customers during the quarter, compared with 3.27 million additions in the preceding quarter.
Airtel’s reported India mobile postpaid subscriber base increased 13.5 percent to 31.24 million, compared with 27.52 million in September 2025.
Including IoT and machine-to-machine connections reported under Airtel Business, the postpaid-related connection base reached 119.82 million, representing 42.9 percent annual growth.
The company’s India 4G and 5G data customer base increased 6.6 percent to 304.63 million, compared with 285.82 million a year earlier.
Airtel ARPU Increases to ₹271, While Mobile Churn Rises
Airtel’s India mobile ARPU increased to ₹271 in the September 2026 quarter from ₹256 a year earlier, representing growth of 5.9 percent.
Sequentially, mobile ARPU increased 2.7 percent from ₹264 in the June 2026 quarter.
However, India’s monthly mobile customer churn increased to 2.9 percent from 2.6 percent in the preceding quarter, returning to the level reported in September 2025.
Airtel’s prepaid customers accounted for 91.7 percent of its India mobile subscriber base, compared with 92.4 percent a year earlier.
The higher ARPU indicates stronger revenue generation per mobile subscriber, although the sequential increase in churn highlights continued customer retention challenges.
Airtel Broadband Subscribers Grow 28.9 Percent
Airtel’s Homes Services customer base increased 28.9 percent year on year to 15.37 million, compared with 11.93 million in September 2025.
The company added approximately 676,000 home broadband customers during the quarter, compared with 473,000 in the preceding quarter.
However, Homes Services ARPU declined to ₹509 from ₹534 a year earlier, representing a 4.6 percent decrease.
Sequentially, broadband ARPU declined 2.6 percent from ₹523.
The figures indicate that Airtel’s broadband subscriber expansion is outpacing growth in revenue generated per home customer.
Airtel Digital TV Subscribers and Churn
Airtel’s Digital TV customer base, including IPTV, reached 15.56 million at the end of September 2026, compared with 15.35 million a year earlier, representing growth of 1.3 percent.
However, the company lost approximately 443,000 Digital TV customers during the quarter, reducing the subscriber base from 16 million in June 2026.
Digital TV ARPU reached ₹163, compared with ₹160 in the preceding quarter, representing sequential growth of 1.5 percent.
Monthly Digital TV churn increased to 3.5 percent from 2.7 percent in June 2026 and 3.1 percent in September 2025.
The simultaneous decline in quarterly subscribers and increase in churn highlights retention challenges in Airtel’s television business.
Airtel Capex Reaches ₹12,467 Crore
Bharti Airtel’s consolidated Capex reached ₹12,466.8 crore in the September 2026 quarter, increasing 10 percent from ₹11,362.3 crore a year earlier.
India and South Asia Capex, including passive infrastructure services, increased 3 percent to ₹9,907.7 crore, compared with ₹9,642.9 crore a year earlier.
Airtel’s India mobile services Capex declined 16 percent to ₹3,599.9 crore from ₹4,270.7 crore.
Homes Services Capex increased 17 percent to ₹2,181.4 crore, compared with ₹1,860.6 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2025, reflecting continued investment in residential broadband.
Digital TV Capex increased 56 percent to ₹476.5 crore from ₹306.3 crore.
Airtel Business Capex increased 53 percent to ₹1,171 crore from ₹766.1 crore, supporting its enterprise connectivity and digital services operations.
Africa Capex reached ₹2,559.1 crore, compared with ₹1,719.5 crore a year earlier, representing growth of approximately 48.8 percent in rupee terms.
For the first six months of FY2027, consolidated Capex reached ₹25,852.8 crore, increasing 31 percent year on year.
Separately, Airtel disclosed an investment of ₹2,825.8 crore in a strategic land parcel for its India data center business.
Airtel Digital Services and Enterprise Transformation
Airtel is expanding its digital services portfolio through enterprise connectivity, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, IoT and managed services.
Airtel Business revenue increased 11.4 percent to ₹5,877.9 crore, supported by demand for core connectivity and newer digital offerings.
The company announced a strategic collaboration with ITI Limited to accelerate digital transformation among Indian enterprises. The partnership is intended to support businesses seeking integrated technology, communications and digital infrastructure solutions.
Airtel also expanded its consumer digital services through a partnership with Apple, introducing additional benefits for customers subscribing to family postpaid plans priced at ₹999 and above.
The offering combines expanded iCloud+ storage with access to Apple TV and Apple Arcade, strengthening Airtel’s premium postpaid proposition.
In Africa, Airtel Money revenue increased 25.8 percent in constant currency to $437 million, compared with $348 million a year earlier.
Airtel Money’s active customer base increased 22.4 percent to 60.91 million, compared with 49.75 million in September 2025.
Airtel Money ARPU increased to $2.5 from $2.4 a year earlier.
Airtel AI and Anti-Spam Innovation
Bharti Airtel highlighted its continued focus on anti-spam innovation as part of its efforts to improve customer security and digital experience.
The company is positioning intelligent network security and digital customer protection as important elements of its service strategy.
However, the quarterly report does not provide separate figures for AI revenue, AI-related Capex, AI customer subscriptions or financial savings attributable to artificial intelligence. Consequently, the commercial contribution of AI cannot be quantified from the disclosed results.
Airtel Africa Subscribers, ARPU and Churn
Airtel Africa’s mobile customer base increased to 193.89 million from 173.82 million a year earlier, representing growth of 11.6 percent.
The business added 4.89 million net mobile subscribers during the September quarter.
Africa mobile ARPU increased to $2.8 from $2.6 a year earlier, representing 6 percent growth in constant currency.
However, monthly customer churn increased to 4.8 percent, compared with 4.5 percent in the preceding quarter and 4.2 percent a year earlier.
Africa’s data subscriber base reached 89.89 million, increasing 15 percent year on year.
The region’s data ARPU increased 11.1 percent to $3.1, compared with $2.8 in September 2025.
Airtel Africa’s mobile data revenue increased 28.8 percent in constant currency to $815 million, compared with $633 million a year earlier.
The figures demonstrate stronger subscriber monetization across African markets, although increasing churn remains an important customer retention challenge.
Airtel’s Growth Strategy
Bharti Airtel’s September 2026 quarter demonstrates a strategy centered on increasing mobile ARPU, expanding broadband subscriptions, strengthening enterprise digital services and investing in infrastructure.
The company’s consolidated revenue growth of 17 percent, India mobile ARPU of ₹271 and global subscriber base of 692.58 million highlight its expanding scale.
However, the increase in India mobile churn to 2.9 percent, Africa churn to 4.8 percent and Digital TV churn to 3.5 percent indicates that customer retention remains an important priority.
Airtel’s continued Capex commitments, growing digital services portfolio and investment in data center infrastructure position the operator to pursue additional revenue opportunities beyond traditional mobile connectivity.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
