Airtel Digital TV adds 228,000 subscribers in 1Q 2017

NEW DELHI, India — Bharti Airtel Limited (“Bharti Airtel” or “the Company”) today announced its audited consolidated Ind-AS results for the fourth quarter and the full year ended March 31, 2017.

Digital TV Services

As on March 31, 2017, the Company had its Digital TV operations in 639 districts. DTH had 12.8 Mn customers at the end of the quarter, which represents an increase of 9.3%, as compare to the corresponding quarter last year. Net customer additions for Digital TV during the quarter were 228 K. ARPU for the quarter was at Rs 228 and was almost flat to corresponding quarter last year.

Operational Performance – India – Digital TV

                                        Mar 31,  Dec 31,  Sep 30,  Jun 30,  Mar 31,
                                  Unit     2017     2016     2016     2016     2016
                                 -----  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Digital TV Customers             000's   12,815   12,588   12,405   12,149   11,725
Net additions                    000's      228      183      256      424      619
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)     Rs      228      232      232      233      229
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)    US$      3.4      3.4      3.5      3.5      3.4
Monthly Churn                        %     1.2%     1.3%     1.2%     0.8%     0.8%

Revenue from Digital TV services had increased by 10.4% to Rs 8,657 Mn as compared to Rs 7,840 Mn in the corresponding quarter last year. EBITDA for this segment continue to improve and was at Rs 3,153 Mn as compared to Rs 2,750 Mn in the corresponding quarter last year. The reported EBITDA margin improved to 36.4% in the current quarter, as compared to 35.1% in the corresponding quarter last year. The improvement in EBITDA has resulted in an EBIT of Rs 975 Mn in the current quarter, as compared to EBIT of Rs 720 Mn in the corresponding quarter last year.