Bharti Airtel Ltd. reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit as gains from tariff hikes failed to offset the drag from a one-time charges due to foreign exchange losses.

bharti airtel

India’s No.2 wireless carrier, led by billionaire Sunil Mittal, almost trebled its net income to 35.9 billion rupees ($427 million) for the quarter ended Sep. 30 from the same period last year, according to a filing Monday.

It still fell short of the average 43.98 billion-rupee profit estimated by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

The operator took a one-time expense of 8.54 billion rupees for the quarter on account of net foreign exchange loss due to currency devaluation in group units.

Revenue rose 12% to 414.73 billion rupees, beating estimates slightly. Total costs also climbed 12% to 196.3 billion rupees, the filing said.

The average revenue per user, or ARPU, for India operations was 233 rupees, a jump of 10% from the preceding quarter.

It’s a far cry from the 300-rupee mark that Bharti has been flagging for a while as the minimum needed for financial stability of the telecom operators.

The latest quarterly earnings are coming on a low base. Last year’s September quarter profit was also hit by a one-off expense due to an adverse court ruling in India and forex losses due to a devalued Nigerian naira.

“The flow through of tariff repair is in-line with our expectation on ARPU increase and SIM consolidation. We reported industry leading ARPU,” Gopal Vittal, managing director, said in the filing, without commenting specifically on the forex-related charges this quarter.

Vittal has been appointed as Bharti’s vice chairman while Shashwat Sharma was named as the managing director and chief executive officer, according to a company filing. Both will move into their new roles starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Nigeria’s mobile subscriber base fell 30.09 percent to 153.32 million in September 2024, following deactivation of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) not linked to a verified National Identification Number (NIN) by the mandated deadline.

The SIM-NIN linkage initiative, aimed at enhancing security and identifying potential criminal elements, now requires that all SIM users have a verified NIN, with registration restricted to individuals over the age of 18. This move reinforces that SIM registration represents a legal contract, valid only for adults.

Earlier, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over 153 million SIMs have now been successfully linked to a NIN, achieving a compliance rate of 96 percent, up from 69.7 percent in January 2024.

In collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCC disclosed that it has discovered multiple cases of excessive SIM ownership, with some individuals reportedly holding over 100,000 SIM cards.

To maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s mobile network, the NCC emphasised its commitment to working with security agencies to eliminate the sale of pre-registered SIMs.

The NCC urged Nigerians who still need to complete their NIN-SIM linkage, or those with verification issues, to update their details promptly through service providers or approved self-service portals. It also reiterated that the sale or purchase of pre-registered SIMs is illegal and encouraged the public to report any such incidents via its toll-free line, 622, or through its social media channels.

Last week, key stakeholders in Africa’s internet ecosystem gathered in Lagos for the Nigerian Peering and Interconnection Forum (ngPIF), where they explored strategies for expanding Nigeria’s rapidly growing internet infrastructure.

Hosted by the Nigerian Network Operator Group (ngNOG) and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), the forum attracted government officials, industry leaders, and technology experts committed to enhancing digital connectivity in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the critical role of internet connectivity in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and development. Represented by Ganiyu Oseni, Senior Adviser on Technology, Broadband & Innovation, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to fostering digital inclusion and expanding infrastructure.

“Digital connectivity is not just a tool for communication; it is a catalyst for economic transformation,” Oseni said on behalf of the Governor. “We are committed to supporting initiatives like ngPIF that push the boundaries of digital infrastructure and bring the benefits of connectivity to all Nigerians.”

The two-day forum featured a series of panel discussions and workshops, with participants focusing on key topics such as peering, interconnection, data centers, and the role of government in creating a conducive environment for digital innovation.

Prof. Wale Adedokun, National Coordinator of ngPIF, underscored the forum’s mission to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, particularly between urban and rural areas.

“The essence of ngPIF is to foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure internet resources are more accessible and affordable across Nigeria,” he told journalists.

Muhammed Rudman, CEO of IXPN, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of rural connectivity to ensure that all citizens can access the digital economy. “The government’s support is crucial for expanding internet access in underserved areas, particularly through mechanisms like the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF),” Rudman explained.

In addition, Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centre (OADC), highlighted ngPIF’s role in building a robust peering community that includes infrastructure providers, content creators, service providers, and policymakers. “This forum has evolved into a vibrant community dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s interconnection and peering infrastructure, putting the country on the global digital map,” Coker remarked.

As Nigeria continues its digital transformation, ngPIF remains a vital platform for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of the country’s internet landscape.