Bharti Airtel posted a record high ARPU of ₹250 in Q1 FY26, up from ₹211 a year ago—an 18.5% increase year‑on‑year and a 2.1% sequential rise—cementing its lead over competitors in the telecom sector. This performance reflects Airtel’s shift toward premium smartphone users and growing digital engagement.
Consolidated net profit surged 43% YoY to ₹5,948 crore, propelled by strong growth in both its India and Africa businesses. India operations alone delivered ₹37,585 crore in revenue, rising 29% YoY.((turn0search10](https://), Mobile data usage increased by over 21%, with average consumption per customer reaching around 26.9 GB/month.
Airtel added approximately 4 million new smartphone data users during the quarter, increasing its postpaid base to 26.6 million. This reflects successful monetisation via tariff hikes implemented in July 2024
Lower capital expenditure also contributed to improved free cash flow and a move toward deleveraging. Analysts predict ARPU could surpass ₹280 by FY26 end if current momentum continues
This strong quarter highlights Airtel’s successful premiumisation strategy, stable subscriber growth, and ability to extract more value per user—even in a competitive market environment.
