Twitter India profit doubles in FY19

Mumbai: Profit at Twitter’s Indian unit doubled and revenue increased 31% in the year ended March, indicating improved business for the social media platform. Net profit at Twitter Communications India rose 108% to Rs 5.8 crore, according to company filings sourced from Veratech. Revenue climbed to Rs 56.9 crore during 2018-19 from Rs 43.4 crore a year ago.

Twitter spokesperson said it does not provide country-specific sales and the India operating revenue refers to its service fee income.

“This includes marketing support, business planning assistance and related services to build and expand the internet user community and potential advertisers in India,” added the spokesperson. Globally, almost 90% of Twitter’s advertising revenue is generated from mobile devices. “However, in emerging markets like India and Pakistan, a significant portion of users use feature phones and communicate via SMS messaging, both of which have limited functionality and neither of which may be able to take full advantage of our products and services offered on smartphone or our website or desktop applications,” the company said in its 2019 annual report.


Most marketers have increased advertising spending on digital media, especially in urban areas where Wi-Fi and affordable mobile connections are available. While all social media compete for digital dominance, companies consider Google and Facebook more powerful advertising platforms than Twitter.

Developing markets such as India lag behind the developed world in consumer use of digital devices with companies slower to embrace digital media. Traditional media still secures the bulk of advertising budgets in the country. According to a report by Dentsu Aegis Network, digital media spend is expected to grow 32.7% in 2019 to Rs 14,400 crore, or about a fifth of overall ad spends in the country.