Bharti Airtel on Monday reported a 14.2% quarter-on-quarter rise in its consolidated net profit for the July–September period, driven by a sharp fall in finance costs and sustained growth in premium users. The telecom major’s net profit stood at Rs 6,792 crore, up from Rs 5,948 crore in the April–June quarter, slightly ahead of Bloomberg’s estimate of Rs 6,740 crore.

The increase in profit was primarily supported by a 14.8% decline in net finance costs, which stood at Rs 4,427 crore in Q2, coupled with a steady rise in premium subscribers that bolstered average revenue per user (Arpu). The company’s Arpu improved to Rs 256 from Rs 250 in the preceding quarter, reflecting its continued focus on premiumisation and an improved customer mix.

Consolidated revenues rose 5.4% sequentially to R

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