NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel managed to once again eke out a surprise net profit on a consolidated basis in the fiscal third quarter, helped again by one-time gains, but losses continued for India even as the erstwhile market leader lost customers amid a brutal price war with Reliance Jio.

The nation’s second largest telecom company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 86 crore, which slumped 72% from a year earlier, and from Rs 119 crore it reported in the July-September quarter, when its numbers were also helped by a one-time gain. An ET poll had pegged Bharti Airtel's third quarter net loss at Rs 856 crore.

Its India business expanded its loss, before exceptional items, which came in at Rs 972 crore, narrower than a net loss of Rs1,646.4 crore in the second quarter. A year back, the company had posted a net profit of Rs 373.5 crore.

Consolidated revenue rose 1% on year to Rs 20,519 crore, and from Rs 20,422 crore it clocked in the previous quarter ended September 30, as the effects of the company’s minimum average revenue per user (ARPU) plans took initial effect.

ARPU rose 4.1% on quarter to Rs104, but was 15.5% lower than a year back.