Bharti Airtel Faces Market Pressure Amid Singtel’s Divestment
The Bharti Airtel share price saw a sharp decline of more than 4% on Friday, closing at Rs 2,001.50 on the NSE, following news that Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) had sold a major portion of its stake in the Indian telecom giant. The market reacted swiftly, sending Bharti Airtel’s market capitalization down to Rs 11.99 lakh crore as of November 7, 2025.
According to Reuters, Singtel sold 51 million shares, representing a 0.8% stake in Bharti Airtel, for USD 1.16 billion. The shares were sold at Rs 2,030 apiece, reflecting a 3.1% discount compared to Airtel’s previous closing price.
Singtel’s Long-Term Investment Strategy
Singtel has been a key investor in Bharti Airtel since 2000. The recent stake sale is part of the Singaporean telecom giant’s asset restructuring strategy aimed at optimizing its investment portfolio and focusing more on digital infrastructure and regional innovation.
Following this transaction, Singtel’s stake in Bharti Airtel has decreased from 31.4% in 2022 to 27.5% in 2025. The company has been gradually divesting from its long-held positions in telecom assets across Asia to strengthen its balance sheet and drive future growth in technology-driven ventures.
A Singtel spokesperson stated that the divestment aligns with its mid-term asset recycling programme, which seeks to fund new opportunities in data centers, cloud services, and digital connectivity across Southeast Asia.
Bharti Airtel Share Price Reaction
The Bharti Airtel share price decline on Friday was largely attributed to investor sentiment following the block deal. Market analysts noted that large stake sales often create short-term selling pressure, even though the company’s fundamentals remain strong.
Despite the temporary dip, Bharti Airtel’s stock has been a top performer in India’s telecom sector, having quadrupled in value since 2019. This surge has been supported by strong financial growth, increased average revenue per user (ARPU), and consistent network expansion across India and Africa.
Financial Performance Remains Strong
In its latest financial results for the second quarter of FY26, Bharti Airtel reported a two-fold increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 8,651 crore, compared to Rs 4,153 crore in the same quarter last year.
The company also posted an EBITDA of Rs 29,919 crore, marking a 35.9% year-on-year growth, with an EBITDA margin of 57.4%, up from 53.1% YoY. Analysts believe this robust performance reinforces Airtel’s ability to sustain profitability and maintain its leadership position in the telecom sector, despite external market fluctuations.
Sunil Mittal’s Net Worth and Business Outlook
As per Forbes’ real-time data, Sunil Bharti Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Airtel, currently has a net worth of USD 14.3 billion as of November 8, 2025. Mittal has been instrumental in positioning Bharti Airtel as a global telecom powerhouse, expanding its footprint across 17 countries and leading India’s transition into 5G and fiber broadband.
Industry experts assert that the current drop in the Bharti Airtel share price could offer buying opportunities for long-term investors, given the company’s solid earnings growth, expanding digital services, and strong leadership team.
Market Analysts’ View
Financial analysts have largely maintained a positive outlook on Bharti Airtel, citing its resilient operating performance, steady subscriber growth, and increasing average data consumption among Indian users.
Brokerage firm Motilal Oswal remarked that Singtel’s divestment “should not be viewed as a loss of confidence” but rather as part of its portfolio optimization strategy, while Airtel continues to enjoy robust cash flows and a growing presence in enterprise and broadband segments.
Conclusion
Although the Bharti Airtel share price faced short-term volatility following Singtel’s stake sale, the company’s long-term fundamentals remain intact. With strong financial results, continued 5G expansion, and increasing digital service adoption, Airtel appears well-positioned for sustained growth.
As market sentiment stabilizes, experts believe the stock could recover its momentum, maintaining Bharti Airtel’s standing as one of India’s most valuable telecom enterprises.For more business and startup-related news, visit StartupNews.FYI and stay informed about the latest market updates and entrepreneurial insights.
