Airtel plans Rs 19,000-cr capex this year despite 72% decline in net profit

The rally is mainly on account of sentiment that the Africa region would do well, said analysts

Despite a 72 per cent decline in net profit for the March quarter, telecom major Bharti Airtel said it was committing a capital expenditure of $3 billion (Rs 19,300 crore) this financial year, of which $500 million would be spent in Africa.

Nilanjan Roy, its global chief financial officer, said so in a conference call after announcing its quarterly results. The share price closed on Wednesday at Rs 372.70, about eight per cent higher, despite the 72 per cent fall in the quarterly net profit to Rs 373.4 crore. During the day, the stock had soared 10 per cent to