DTH
Airtel Digital TV numbers up
BENGALURU: Indian telecom player Bharti Airtel Ltd (Airtel) reported 9.5 per cent and 10.7 per cent growth in operating revenue for its Airtel Digital TV Services (Airtel DTH) for the year and quarter ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2017-18; Q4 2017-18), respectively, as compared with the corresponding year ago periods. Airtel DTH’s operating revenue in FY 2017-18 was Rs 3,757 crore while in FY 2016-17 it was Rs 3,430.6 crore. Operating revenue in Q4 2017-18 was Rs 958.5 crore and in Q4 2016-17 it was Rs 865.7 crore.
The company reported improved EBIDTA for both FY 2017-18 and Q4 2017-18. EBIDTA in FY 2017-18 increased by 16.4 per cent to Rs 1,422.6 crore (37.9 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 1,221.9 crore (35.6 per cent of operating revenue). EBIDTA for the quarter rose by 17.4 per cent to Rs 370.1 crore (38.6 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 315.3 crore (36.4 per cent of operating revenue) in the previous year.
The company has increased its capital expenditure (capex) in FY 2017-18 as compared with the previous year. Total capex increased by 19.4 per cent to Rs 1,027.7 crore from Rs 860.8 crore in the previous year. Cumulative investment in FY 2017-18 was Rs 8,005.7 crore as compared with Rs 7,351.3 crore in FY 2016-17. Capex in Q4 2017-18 increased 48.9 per cent to Rs 206.4 crore as against Rs 138.6 crore in Q4 2016-17.
Subscriber details
Airtel reported 14.168 million Airtel DTH subscribers at the end of FY 2017-18. Quarter-on-quarter, its subscribers increased by 0.23 million. The company had reported 12.815 million subscribers at end of Q4 2016-17. Average revenue per user or ARPU for the quarter was Rs 228, the same as in Q4 2016-17, but declined from Rs 233 in the immediate trailing quarter. Monthly churn in Q4 2017-18 was lower at 1.1 per cent as compared with 1.2 per cent in Q4 2016-17 and Q3 2017-18.
Airtel numbers
Airtel’s annual consolidated revenue for FY 2017-18 at Rs 83,688 crore declined by 9.8 per cent over the previous year (reported drop of 12.3 per cent) on an underlying basis, led by decline of 11.7 per cent in India. Consolidated EBITDA at Rs 30,448 crore reflects an EBITDA margin of 36.4 per cent as compared with 37.3 per cent in previous year.
Airtel’s consolidated revenue for Q4 2017-18 at Rs 19,634 crore declined by 5.4 per cent year-over-year (yoy) (reported drop of 10.5 per cent) on an underlying basis. India revenue for the quarter was Rs 14,796 crore shrunk by 7.5 per cent yoy (13.1 per cent on reported) on an underlying basis. Yoy decline was primarily caused by mobile drop of 13.5 per cent says the company. Consolidated EBITDA at Rs 7,034 crore declined 12.0 per cent yoy. Consolidated EBITDA margin decreased by 0.6 per cent to 35.8 per cent in the quarter as against 36.4 per cent.
Airtel India and South Asia MD and CEO Gopal Vittal said, “The telecom industry continues to witness below cost, artificially suppressed pricing. Industry revenues were further adversely impacted this quarter due to the reduction in international termination rates. Our strategic investments in data capacities, innovative digital content through Airtel TV, customer friendly bundles and upgrade programs led to the highest-ever mobile data customer additions of 15 million during the quarter. Usage parameters remained robust on a yoy basis; we saw data and voice traffic grow 584 per cent and 55 per cent respectively. In line with our goal of building market-leading 4G networks, with best-in-class speeds and capacity; while supporting the digital India initiative, we have ended the financial year with our highest ever capital expenditure of Rs 240 billion. We intend to continue the rollout momentum next year as well.”
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DTH
GTPL Hathway posts FY26 revenue growth, Q4 slips into loss
Annual profit at Rs 5.88 crore; Q4 loss at Rs 5.90 crore
MUMBAI: A strong year met a shaky finish as GTPL Hathway closed FY26 on a high note only to stumble at the final hurdle. The company’s latest financials reveal a tale of two timelines: steady annual growth alongside a fourth-quarter dip that nudged it into the red. GTPL Hathway Limited reported total income of Rs 2,472.46 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marking a clear rise from Rs 2,223.00 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 2,450.78 crore, up from Rs 2,193.38 crore a year ago, signalling consistent traction in its core cable TV and broadband business.
Yet, beneath the annual growth narrative, the March quarter told a different story. The company posted a net loss of Rs 5.90 crore in Q4 FY26, a sharp reversal from a profit of Rs 0.91 crore in the preceding quarter and Rs 8.15 crore in the same period last year. Total income for the quarter came in at Rs 618.46 crore, largely flat sequentially but higher than Rs 569.33 crore reported a year earlier.
The pressure was visible across the cost structure. Total expenses for the quarter rose to Rs 620.64 crore, marginally exceeding income and tipping the company into a loss before tax of Rs 7.87 crore. This compares with a profit before tax of Rs 1.22 crore in the December quarter and Rs 11.32 crore in Q4 FY25.
For the full year, however, profitability held firm. GTPL reported a net profit of Rs 5.88 crore in FY26, significantly lower than Rs 47.80 crore in FY25, but still in positive territory despite higher finance costs and operating expenses. Operating expenses alone climbed to Rs 1,884.53 crore for the year, up from Rs 1,603.53 crore, reflecting the increasing cost of running and scaling network infrastructure.
Finance costs also rose notably to Rs 33.57 crore in FY26 from Rs 22.19 crore in FY25, while depreciation and amortisation expenses stood at Rs 189.19 crore, underlining continued investments in assets and technology. Employee benefit expenses, however, declined to Rs 63.42 crore from Rs 77.08 crore, offering some relief on the cost front.
An exceptional item of Rs 5.69 crore during the year also weighed on profitability, compared with Rs 3.79 crore in the previous year. Meanwhile, tax adjustments, including deferred tax movements and prior-year adjustments, played a role in shaping the final earnings outcome.
Despite the quarterly wobble, the broader picture suggests a company still expanding its top line while grappling with margin pressures. With paid-up equity share capital unchanged at Rs 112.46 crore, the focus now shifts to whether GTPL can convert its revenue momentum into more stable, sustainable profitability in the coming quarters.
In short, FY26 may have delivered growth on paper but the closing chapter serves as a reminder that in business, as in broadband, consistency is everything.
