A quick look at the first quarter results of telecom companies' shows that revenues are clearly soaring. During Apr-Jun 2007, Bharti Airtel has seen its gross revenues hit Rs 5,905 crore ($ 1.47 billion), an increase of 53% over the same period last year. If one took into account only the mobile revenues, then it has touched Rs 4,697.6 crore ($1.17 billion. That's 65% over last year.
But Bharti is not the only one with great results. IDEA Cellular which has come out with its results for the first time since listing has recorded a turnover of Rs 1,477.6 crore ($ 369.4 million). Reliance Communications has notched Rs 4,304 crore ($ 1.07 billion)up 32%. Of that mobile earnings are Rs 3373 crore ($ 843 million. EBITDA margins are in the 40% plus range now.
But if one looks at the earnings per subscriber, that's not too different. Going by the June subscriber base, Bharti's 42.7 million mobile subscribers paid-up Rs 1,100 each during the quarter. That works out to Rs 366.67 ($9.16) per month. IDEA's 16.12 million subscribers paid on an average Rs 305 ($ 7.63) each month. Reliance subscribers paid Rs 351.33 ($8.78) per month.
In all , the per subscriber earnings are hardly different for the operators. Bharti is ahead primarily because of the huge lead it has in subscriber numbers.
