iWorld
Airtel rings up big numbers but the bill is getting heavier
MUMBAI: When the phone keeps ringing, the challenge is not answering the call, it’s paying for it. Bharti Airtel’s consolidated results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 show a business still growing at scale, but one increasingly weighed down by rising costs, taxes and balance-sheet pressures.
The telecom major reported consolidated revenue of Rs 53,982 crore for the December quarter, up from Rs 45,129 crore a year earlier, driven by steady growth in India mobile services and a sharp acceleration in Africa. For the nine months ended December 2025, revenue climbed to Rs 1,55,528 crore, compared with Rs 1,25,109 crore in the corresponding period last year.
Operating momentum, however, told a more nuanced story. Profit before depreciation, amortisation, finance costs and tax stood at Rs 23,199 crore in the quarter, while rising depreciation (Rs 13,420 crore) and finance costs (Rs 5,623 crore) continued to eat into the bottom line. Profit before tax for the quarter came in at Rs 12,301 crore, down from Rs 16,892 crore in the same quarter last year, reflecting the combined impact of higher costs and exceptional items.
After accounting for taxes of Rs 3,796 crore, Airtel posted a profit of Rs 8,503 crore for the quarter, compared with Rs 6,631 crore a year ago. For the nine-month period, profit after tax rose to Rs 27,696 crore, up from Rs 21,000 crore last year, aided by operational leverage and strong overseas performance.
Africa emerged as a standout engine. Mobile services Africa generated Rs 15,010 crore in quarterly revenue, up from Rs 10,703 crore a year earlier, while segment profit nearly doubled to Rs 5,070 crore, underscoring the region’s growing importance to Airtel’s overall growth narrative.
India mobile services remained the group’s largest contributor, clocking Rs 28,652 crore in revenue for the quarter, with segment profit of Rs 9,091 crore, supported by higher data usage and premium customer additions. Airtel Business delivered Rs 5,353 crore in revenue, while homes services broadband and DTH contributed Rs 2,001 crore, reflecting steady but slower expansion.
The balance sheet, though, shows the cost of scale. Total consolidated assets stood at Rs 5,29,406 crore as of December 31, 2025, while total liabilities were Rs 3,60,393 crore, keeping leverage firmly in focus. Finance costs for the nine-month period rose to Rs 14,839 crore, highlighting the ongoing burden of network investments and spectrum obligations.
Earnings per share for the December quarter stood at Rs 11.44, down from Rs 11.72 a year earlier, while nine-month EPS came in at Rs 33.42.
The takeaway is clear. Airtel is still dialling up growth especially beyond India but sustaining profitability is becoming a tougher call. As network investments, spectrum costs and taxes stack up, the next phase will test whether revenue growth can keep ringing louder than the costs chasing it.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
