Bharti Airtel Q3 Results Preview: Revenue, Net Profit & EBITDA May Rise on Strong ARPU Growth, Africa Business

Telecom major Bharti Airtel is expected to post a steady-to-strong performance in the December quarter (Q3FY26), with leading brokerages pencilling in healthy growth in revenue and a sharp jump in profits. Continued expansion in average revenue per user (ARPU) in the India wireless business, strong traction in the home broadband segment and a solid performance from Africa operations are likely to be the key growth drivers during the quarter.

Bharti Airtel Q3 Results FY26 Date and Time

As per Bharti Airtel's stock exchange filing, the company's Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, February 5, 2026, to consider and approve the audited standalone and consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, along with the results for the nine months.

Airtel Q3 Preview: Top Brokerages Expect Strong Revenue Growth, Profit Surge on ARPU Expansion and Africa Performance

Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) expects Bharti Airtel's revenue growth in Q3FY26 to be driven by robust momentum in the Homes broadband business and Africa operations, aided by favourable forex movements. The brokerage estimates India wireless revenue and EBITDA to grow by 1.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), reflecting steady ARPU expansion.

MOFSL projects Airtel's wireless ARPU at Rs 258, marking a 0.8 per cent sequential increase. It also expects 3.5 million net paying subscriber additions and 6 million 4G-5G net adds during the quarter, indicating sustained customer upgrades to higher data plans.

At the consolidated level, Motilal Oswal pegs Bharti Airtel's revenue at Rs 53,600 crore, up 19 per cent year-on-year, while EBITDA is seen at Rs 30,500 crore, reflecting a 24.1 per cent YoY growth. Adjusted net profit is estimated at Rs 8,500 crore.

The brokerage further expects consolidated revenue to grow by around 3 per cent QoQ, supported by strong performances in the Homes and Africa segments, even as India wireless revenue growth remains modest on a sequential basis.

Kotak Institutional Equities believes Bharti Airtel's India wireless business will continue to be the primary growth driver in Q3FY26, supported by sustained ARPU expansion and subscriber migration to higher-value plans. The brokerage expects ARPU to rise to Rs 258 from Rs 255 in the previous quarter.

Kotak also factors in 0.95 million net additions in the broadband segment, reflecting healthy demand during the festive season. On the consolidated front, it estimates Airtel's revenue at Rs 53,002.5 crore, translating into 17.4 per cent year-on-year growth and 1.6 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth, driven by tariff optimisation and higher data usage.

Airtel Q3 EBITDA Margin Expansion and Profit Outlook

Kotak expects Bharti Airtel's EBITDA margin to improve to 57.3 per cent, compared with 54.5 per cent in Q3FY25 and 56.7 per cent in Q2FY26. Higher operating leverage and increased data consumption are likely to offset elevated network-related costs during the quarter.

The brokerage pegs Airtel's consolidated EBITDA at Rs 30,358.2 crore, reflecting a 23.4 per cent year-on-year growth and a 2.7 per cent sequential increase. Adjusted net profit is estimated at Rs 7,343.9 crore, up 1.5 per cent YoY and 8.1 per cent QoQ.

Kotak Institutional Equities notes that Bharti Airtel's strong balance sheet and improving cash flow profile should continue to support long-term valuations, even as near-term capital expenditure remains elevated to strengthen network capabilities and expand digital infrastructure.

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