Airtel’s active mobile Internet connection base increased but revenues declined consecutively, in Q4-FY17, as the company reeled under the impact of Reliance Jio’s “Welcome offer”, or as Airtel called it, a “Slowdown in Mobile revenue growth primarily due to free voice and data offering by a new operator”. Mobile Internet revenues declined 11% to Rs 2743.7 crore from Rs 3092.7 crore the previous quarter, and 18% year on year. Airtel’s connection base grew by 7.8 million connections, while its Mobile Internet connection base raised only around 2.45 million (4%) quarter on quarter to 57.36 million from 54.92 million, bringing it on part with the state a year ago (December 2015). Now only about 21% of Airtel’s connection base uses the Internet. At September 2016 end, this was 24.1%. Airtel’s broadband (3G+4G) connection base increased by 5 million, its 2G connection…
