Airtel tones down compensation in FY25; top execs see modest hikes

Bharti Airtel has moderated its employee compensation in FY25, signalling a strategic shift towards financial discipline after years of heavy investment in digital infrastructure and 5G rollout. According to the company’s latest annual report, average employee salary hikes dropped to 8% from 8.7% in the previous year, even as the telco reported a 10.4% rise in consolidated revenues to Rs 1.7 lakh crore. The company also recorded its highest-ever 40% revenue market share in mobile services, underscoring its operational strength even amid tighter cost controls.