Brands
Airtel profit halves in Q3 even as revenues surge nearly 20 per cent
GURUGRAM: Bharti Airtel reported a steep fall in third-quarter profit for FY26, even as revenues climbed sharply on the back of robust momentum in India and a strong showing in Africa.
The telecom group posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 8,502 crore for the quarter, down from Rs 16,134 crore a year earlier, according to an exchange filing. Consolidated revenue jumped 19.6 per cent year-on-year to Rs 53,981 crore, with sequential growth of 3.5 per cent driven by higher mobile usage and improved execution across markets.
Sales and marketing spends rose 17 per cent to Rs 3,426 crore, reflecting Airtel’s push on brand building and customer acquisition.
India revenues climbed 13.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 39,226 crore, supported by premiumisation in mobile services, strong growth in home broadband and steady performance in Airtel Business. Mobile services alone generated Rs 28,651 crore, while the Africa business delivered revenues of Rs 15,010 crore, aided by digital-led distribution.
Home services continued to shine, with revenue surging 32.5 per cent to Rs 2,000 crore and record net additions of 1.16 million customers. Digital TV revenue was flat at Rs 755 crore.
At the operating level, consolidated Ebitda rose to Rs 31,144 crore, with margins at 57.7 per cent. The India business posted an Ebitda of Rs 23,676 crore, translating into a margin of 60.4 per cent.
Subscriber metrics remained strong, with smartphone data users rising by 20.8 million year-on-year to account for 79 per cent of mobile customers. ARPU improved to Rs 259 from Rs 245 a year ago, while average monthly data usage climbed 29.2 per cent to 29.8 gb per user. Postpaid additions stood at 0.62 million.
Commenting on the results, executive vice chairman Gopal Vittal, said the quarter reflected the strength of Airtel’s diversified portfolio, with Africa delivering an exceptional performance driven by the company’s home-grown digital platforms.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
