Bundled packs keep Airtel's Q2 ARPU stable, but AGR overhang on share price

To retain market share, the company will continue to focus on quality customers, reduce churn, and focus on content to improve customer stickiness

Bharti Airtel posted better-than-expected operational numbers for the quarter ended September. While the full details of its results are not available, its per-user metrics, subscriber base, and churn have improved over the previous quarter. 

In a seasonally weak quarter, the telco reported average revenue per user (ARPU) of Rs 128, down 0.78 per cent on a sequential basis. However, adjusted for the merger with the consumer business of Tata Teleservices (lower ARPU subscribers), like-for-like ARPU has been flat at Rs 129. 

What has helped the operator report a stable ARPU is uptrading from lower-value packs to bundled ones and 4G services, which