Idea Cellular has reported a standalone Profit After Tax (PAT) for Q1 of Rs. 3,075 million, up just 1.4 percent from the Rs. 3032 million reported last quarter. Gross revenue also grew marginally by 0.9 percent to Rs. 2, 888.3 million reported last quarter to 2,862.6 million reported in Q4-09. On a consolidated basis, the company reported a PAT of Rs. 297.1 million, up 13 percent from 2,743 million last quarter, on gross revenues of Rs. 2,975.9 milion as compared to Rs. 2935.6 million reported last quarter. EBITDA margins (consolidated) improved, up to 28.9 percent in Q1-10, from 27.6 percent in Q4-09. Details: Quarterly Report | Financials | Earnings Release Like Bharti Airtel earlier today, Idea Cellular reported a decline in ARPU: APRU for Q1-10 was down to Rs. 232, from Rs. 255 reported in the previous quarter. Average Minutes of Use also declined quarter on quarter to 399 from 402. Because of a Rs. 0.10 reduction in termination charges, which Bharti Airtel also mentioned during their earnings conference call, the company says that the operating results this quarter are not comparable to previous quarters. These changes have caused a contraction in revenue this quarter by Rs. 1,355 million on a standalone basis, and Rs. 1,421 million on a consolidated basis. The reduction has brought EBITDA down by Rs. 61 milion (standalone) and Rs. 64 million (consolidated) for the quarter. Idea added 4.1 mn subscribers during the quarter, and claims to have maintained market share. Average Minutes of Use per subscriber declined by 0.7%, partly due to continuing…
