Telecom firm Idea Cellular on Monday reported a fall of approximately 18 percent in its consolidated net profit for the third quarter of the current fiscal at Rs.201.  

The company said that this is primarily because of depreciation and and financing cost with respect to 3G investments, and higher provision for deferred tax.

The Aditya Birla Group-promoted firm''s consolidated total income rose by 27.18 percent in the period under review at Rs.5,030.82 crore from Rs.3,955.61 crore for the corresponding quarter of last fiscal.

The consolidated results represent all the arms and subsidiaries of the company, including its mobile tower arm -- Indus Towers.

On standalone basis, Idea Cellular's net profit in the quarter ending December declined by 26.31 percent at Rs.162.89 crore from Rs.221.06 crore in the like period of 2010-11.

The firm's standalone total income rose by 26.4 percent in the period under review at Rs.4,966.45 crore from Rs.3,929.05 crore for the corresponding quarter of last fiscal.

The network operation cost in the quarter under review went up by 15.61 percent at Rs.1,353.84 crore from Rs.1,170.95 crore in the like period of 2010-11.

"The business outlook remains a paradox, a combination of tailwinds with strong customer traction and headwinds emerging from uncertain regulatory interventions and macro-economic environment," the company said in a statement.

The company, however, added it had maintained an upward trend in average realisation per minute (ARPM) helped by a healthy contribution from value added services and roaming revenues.

"Company has improved its competitive standing to 14 percent revenue market share and extended its MNP leadership with net gain of 2.2 million customers as on Jan 14 from other existing operators."