Bharti Airtel a formidable No 2 in all pricing scenarios, say analysts

ARPU expansion, market share gains expected even if there is no tariff hike

The Bharti Airtel (Airtel) stock had shed 30 per cent over the last three months to its lows in October, before recovering 9 per cent this week. While the initial overhang was technical factors, such as the stake sale by promoters and the rejig by the MSCI, which reduced Airtel’s weighting in the India index, sector-specific developments added to the decline. The absence of a price hike, Reliance Jio’s (RJio) entry in the postpaid segment, aggressive tariffs in the fixed broadband market, and RJio’s strengthened balance sheet were other reasons for the Street’s dim view of Airtel’s near-term prospects. 

Although there