Idea Cellular reported a 22.5% fall in net profit at Rs 170 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2009 as compared to profit of Rs 220 crore posted last year during the corresponding quarter.

Revenues were at Rs 3,149.4 crore as compared to Rs 2,731 crore a year ago.

The company said that the slowed down financial figures were on account of ‘double stress test’ on account of the reduced tariffs as well as the company’s pan-India expansion. EBITDA was also up by 22.7% while PAT was up 9.7%.

“Figures for the current period are not comparable with that of the previous period due to the de-merger of passive infrastructure to Idea Cellular Tower Infrastructure Ltd," said the company.

The average realized rate per minute was at 51 paise down 15 % in 9 months.