Bharti Airtel recorded a stellar April to June period, with double-digit growth in profit and mobile revenue alongside gains in subscriber numbers and ARPU.

Net profit in fiscal Q1 (ending 30 June) jumped 40 per cent year-on-year to INR59.5 billion ($678.4 million), while revenue grew 18.4 per cent to INR494.6 billion.

Vice chair and MD Gopal Vittal noted in its earnings statement: “Our balance sheet continues to demonstrate strength, supported by solid cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation.”

Vittal said it added around 4 million smartphone data customers in India and saw ARPU increase nearly 19 per cent to INR250, while Africa reported a solid performance with 6.7 per cent growth in constant currency terms.

He added business segment revenue declined due to the impact of a portfolio restructuring last year.

In India, mobile revenue grew 22 per cent to INR273.9 billion, with its customer base rising 2.3 per cent to 354.5 million. Average monthly data usage increased 13.4 per cent to 26.9GB.

It added more than 52,000 base stations to take its total to nearly 1 million at end-June.

Airtel Business sales fell 8 per cent to INR50.6 billion; its passive infrastructure business increased 9 per cent to INR80.6 billion.

Mobile revenue in Africa rose 25 per cent to $1.4 billion, with ARPU climbing 13.4 per cent to $2.40.

Mobile subscribers increased 9 per cent to 169.4 million. Airtel Money revenue grew 30.3 per cent to $284 million, supported by an 11.3 per cent hike in ARPU to $2.10.