Telecom major, Bharti Airtel has reported a 1.5% fall in consolidated profit of Rs 1,011 crore in the October-December quarter of FY12, as compared to Rs 1,027 crore in previous quarter. On a y-o-y basis, net profit fell 22% as the company was hit by higher interest costs and losses on currency fluctuations.
Total revenues for the third quarter rose 7% to Rs 18,477 crore from Rs 17,269.8 crore quarter-on-quarter.
Consolidated EBITDA margins for the quarter increased to 32%, with significant margin improvement reported in Africa. The consolidated total revenues for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011 of Rs 18,477 crore, up 17% over the last year. India and South Asia continues its double digit revenue growth aided by improvement in realisation rates.
The company announced that it had a net debt of Rs 67,763 crore at end-December.
Bharti Airtel stock is trading at Rs 359, down 5% from its previous close in morning trades.
In a statement, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Limited, “I am pleased that investments in branding and networks continue to be our focus in India, as we enhance customer experience for voice quality and cater to the ever increasing demand for data. These investments are resulting in healthy growth of mobile revenues.
