BSNL Q1 revenue rises 4.2% YoY to Rs 5,306 crore; loss narrows sequentially
BSNL narrowed its sequential Q1 FY27 loss to Rs 1,280 crore as operating revenue rose 4.2% year-on-year to Rs 5,306 crore. The state telecom operator is expanding indigenous 4G infrastructure and has begun 5G deployment in Delhi.
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The numbers
| Q1 FY26 net loss: | Rs 1,007 crore |
|---|---|
| March-quarter net loss: | Rs 1,419 crore |
| Total expenses: | Rs 7,242.5 crore, up 5.5% YoY |
| Revenue from operations: | Rs 5,306 crore, up 4.2% YoY and 2% QoQ |
| Consumer mobility revenue: | Rs 2,282 crore, up 12% YoY |
| Enterprise services revenue: | Rs 1,736 crore, up 12% YoY |
| Consumer fixed-access revenue: | Rs 1,290 crore, down 14.5% YoY |
| Indigenous 4G sites installed: | 105,290 |
| Mobile subscriber base: | 93 million |
| ARPU: | about Rs 102.7 |
Why it matters to operators and investors
Double-digit growth in mobility and enterprise revenue, alongside indigenous 4G rollout and Delhi 5G deployment, makes BSNL a more relevant potential partner for network, enterprise and infrastructure alliances.
What to watch next
- Quarterly mobility ARPU, gross additions, churn and active data-user growth.
- Pace of 4G site commissioning, population coverage and quality-of-service metrics.
- Delhi 5G launch timing, coverage expansion and early tariff/adoption data.
- Enterprise order wins, receivables collection and revenue growth versus consumer mobility.
- Sequential EBITDA, cash burn, capex intensity and net-loss trajectory.
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- Competitive tariff actions from Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea, especially in price-sensitive circles.
Likely next moves
The desk's read of what comes next — analysis, not reported by the source.
- Expand indigenous 4G sites into underserved circles and migrate 2G/3G users toward data bundles.
- Prioritize Delhi 5G deployment as a proof point before broader urban rollout.
- Pursue enterprise, government and fixed-wireless contracts to lift revenue mix and network utilization.
- Use improving operating metrics to seek continued government support, vendor financing or infrastructure partnerships.
- Launch retention-focused prepaid and broadband bundles to defend against private-operator subscriber churn.
The counter-case
The 4.2% revenue increase is modest relative to the scale of BSNL's losses and may not establish a durable turnaround. Net loss narrowed only sequentially and remained wider year-on-year, suggesting that operating leverage, pricing, depreciation and network-rollout costs could continue to pressure profitability. The reported 12% growth in mobility and enterprise revenue may also be coming off a weak base, while 4G expansion and early 5G deployment require substantial capital spending before generating meaningful returns.