Bharti Airtel , one of India's leading telecom operators, has received a significant boost to its credit profile as CRISIL Ratings upgraded its long-term rating to 'CRISIL AAA/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA+/Positive'. This upgrade reflects the company's improved business and financial performance in fiscal year 2025.

Strong Financial Growth

The telecom giant reported impressive financial results for FY2025:

The growth was primarily driven by the strong performance of Bharti Airtel's India mobile business, which accounted for approximately 57% of the consolidated EBITDA.

Improved Market Position

Bharti Airtel has strengthened its position in the domestic mobile segment, increasing its revenue market share by about 400 basis points between fiscal years 2021 and 2025. As of May 31, 2025, the company boasted a wireless subscriber base of 39.0 crore, commanding a market share of 33.6%.

Diversified Operations

The company's business risk profile benefits from its diversified operations across various segments:

1. Africa operations
2. Enterprise services
3. Home broadband
4. Passive infrastructure services
5. Dish-to-home (DTH) segments in India

Financial Risk Profile

Bharti Airtel's financial risk profile has improved significantly:

• Net leverage ratio decreased to 2.1 times in FY2025 from 2.5 times in FY2024
• Gross debt stood at Rs 213743.00 crore as of March 31, 2025
• The company made voluntary pre-payment of high-cost spectrum liabilities of approximately Rs 26000.00 crore in FY2025

Future Outlook

CRISIL Ratings expects Bharti Airtel to maintain its strong business position and financial performance in the coming years. The company's focus on 5G rollout and spectrum acquisition is likely to moderate, potentially leading to improved cash flows and further deleveraging.

Executive Compensation

In a recent disclosure, Bharti Airtel reported changes in executive remuneration for FY25:

• Chairman Sunil Mittal's remuneration increased by 0.8% to Rs 32.5 crore, consisting of:
  • Rs 21.57 crore in salary and allowances
  • Rs 7.5 crore performance-linked incentive
  • Rs 3.48 crore in perquisites
• Managing Director Gopal Vittal's compensation rose by 9.1% to Rs 20.24 crore

Both executives received additional performance-linked incentives for FY24:

• Sunil Mittal: Rs 10.4 crore
• Gopal Vittal: Rs 10.3 crore

Mittal also received GBP 2.20 million from overseas subsidiary Network i2i (UK) Ltd. Vittal was granted 121,877 stock options with a three-year vesting period tied to performance achievements and exercised stock options worth Rs 22.95 crore during the year.

Chairman's Perspective

Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal expressed confidence in India's economic stability despite global challenges. Mittal highlighted India's political stability and robust policy initiatives as key factors creating a favorable investment climate. He noted India's projected GDP growth of 6.5% in fiscal 2025, positioning it among the world's fastest-growing large economies.

Mittal also emphasized the surge in India's digital economy, with double-digit growth driven by increased digital engagement across various sectors. He revealed that Airtel contributed over Rs 37300.00 crore in license fees, spectrum charges, and taxes in fiscal 2024-25, along with Rs 28900.00 crore toward spectrum obligations.

As Bharti Airtel continues to strengthen its market position and financial performance, the company appears well-positioned to capitalize on India's growing digital economy and maintain its leadership in the telecom sector.

In a significant market development, telecom giant Bharti Airtel Ltd. witnessed a substantial block trade on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The transaction involved approximately 5.93 million shares, valued at a staggering Rs. 1,139.94 crores.

Block Trade Details

The block deal, which took place during trading hours, saw 5,929,784 shares of Bharti Airtel changing hands. Each share was traded at Rs. 1,922.40, highlighting the current market valuation of the telecom major.

Market Impact

This large-scale transaction, amounting to over Rs. 1,139 crores, is likely to draw attention from market participants and analysts. Block deals of this magnitude often indicate strategic moves by large institutional investors or promoters, although the specific parties involved in this transaction have not been disclosed.

Company Overview

Bharti Airtel is one of India's leading telecommunications service providers, offering a wide range of services including mobile, fixed broadband, and digital TV solutions. The company has a strong presence in the Indian market and also operates in several other countries across South Asia and Africa.

Market Perspective

While this block trade represents a significant movement of Bharti Airtel shares, it's important to note that such transactions don't necessarily reflect on the company's operational performance or future prospects. Investors and market watchers will likely keep a close eye on any potential impact on the stock's price and trading volume in the coming days.

As always, market participants are advised to conduct their own research and consider multiple factors when making investment decisions.