Telecom Revenue Surge Amid Tariff Hikes

Telecom operators in India saw a significant revenue increase during the September 2024 quarter, boosted by tariff hikes. Gross revenue rose 10.5% year-on-year, while adjusted gross revenue climbed 13.11%. Despite losing subscribers, average revenue per user improved. Major players like Airtel and Jio reported notable AGR growth.

In the September 2024 quarter, India's telecom sector experienced a notable revenue surge, according to the latest report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The increase follows tariff hikes by major mobile service providers, contributing to a 10.5% year-on-year rise in gross revenue, reaching Rs 91,426 crore.

Adjusted gross revenue (AGR), which influences government levies, rose 13.11% to Rs 75,310 crore compared to the previous year. Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea adjusted their rates by 11-25%, which resulted in an improved average revenue per user (ARPU), despite shedding subscribers.

Airtel led the charge with a 24.15% AGR increase, while Jio witnessed a 14.19% rise. Vodafone Idea's AGR went up by 4.39%. In contrast, state-owned MTNL saw a 9.41% decline. Government collections from licence fees and spectrum usage charges also increased by over 13%.

(With inputs from agencies.)