In a significant display of its “premiumization” strategy, Bharti Airtel reported on February 5, 2026, that its Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) reached a record high of ₹259 for the third quarter of FY26.
This remains the highest ARPU in the Indian telecom industry, significantly outpacing rival Reliance Jio, which reported an ARPU of ₹213.70 for the same period.
SEO Title: Airtel ARPU Hits Record ₹259: Q3 FY26 Results Show Strong Premiumization Momentum
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Meta Description: Bharti Airtel’s ARPU reached an industry-leading ₹259 in Q3 FY26. While net profit fell 55% due to exceptional items, revenue jumped 19.6% to ₹53,982 crore.
1. Q3 FY26 Financial Snapshot
While the ARPU and revenue showed strong growth, the “headline” net profit figure saw a sharp decline due to accounting adjustments and one-time provisions.
| Metric | Q3 FY26 (Current) | Q3 FY25 (Previous) | Change (YoY) |
| ARPU (Monthly) | ₹259 | ₹245 | ↑ 5.7% |
| Revenue from Operations | ₹53,982 Crore | ₹45,129 Crore | ↑ 19.6% |
| Consolidated EBITDA | ₹31,144 Crore | ₹24,874 Crore | ↑ 25.2% |
| Consolidated Net Profit | ₹6,631 Crore | ₹14,781 Crore | ↓ 55%* |
The 55% drop was primarily due to a massive one-time gain in the previous year’s quarter (linked to the reclassification of Indus Towers) and a ₹256.8 crore provision for new labor codes in the current quarter. Excluding exceptional items, net profit grew to ₹6,920 crore.
2. Drivers of ARPU Growth
The rise to ₹259 was not driven by a single massive tariff hike, but by a consistent shift in the user mix toward higher-value plans.
- Smartphone Adoption: Smartphone data customers now account for 79% of Airtel’s total mobile base, adding 5.2 million users in the quarter.
- Data Consumption: Average data usage per customer surged 29.2% YoY to 29.8 GB per month.
- Postpaid Leadership: Airtel added 0.62 million postpaid subscribers, taking its total high-margin postpaid base in India to 28.1 million.
- Premiumization: Executive Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal highlighted that the focus remains on “quality customers” and improving the portfolio mix rather than just volume.
3. The “Homes” and “Digital” Surge
Airtel’s convergence strategy—bundling broadband, TV, and mobile—is paying off as consumers seek unified digital services.
- Homes Business: Revenue grew 32.6% YoY, with record net additions of 1.2 million customers, taking the total base to 13.1 million.
- Airtel Business: Revenue from enterprise services (Cloud, IoT, and Cybersecurity) grew 1.5% sequentially as digital adjacencies gained traction.
- New AI Hub: During the quarter, Airtel announced a strategic partnership with Google to establish India’s first AI Hub in Visakhapatnam to power future digital services.
4. Infrastructure and Deleveraging
Airtel continues to invest heavily in its network while simultaneously strengthening its balance sheet.
- Capex: The company spent ₹11,787 crore in Q3 alone to expand its 5G and fiber footprint.
- Network Expansion: Deployed 1,147 new towers and 16,338 mobile broadband base stations during the quarter.
- Debt Strength: The net debt to EBITDAaL ratio improved to 1.02 times, highlighting a strong, deleveraged balance sheet that allows for continued aggressive investment.
Conclusion: Quality Over Quantity
Bharti Airtel’s Q3 FY26 results confirm its position as the “premium” choice in India’s telecom market. By hitting a ₹259 ARPU, the company has effectively reached its mid-term target on the way to a long-term goal of ₹300. While the reported net profit was skewed by exceptional items, the underlying operational strength across India and Africa suggests Airtel is successfully decoupling revenue growth from simple subscriber volume.
