Satyam Computer Services, on Thursday, said it's net profit rose 25 per cent to Rs 146 crore (Rs 1.46 billion) in the third quarter ended December 31.  That compared with a reported net profit of Rs 117 crore (Rs 1.17 billion) a year earlier and Rs 148 crore (Rs 1.48 billion) in the second quarter.

The Hyderabad-based IT major also raised full-year revenue growth estimate to Rs 2,511-2,521 crore (Rs 25.11 billion- Rs 25.21 billion), a whooping 31 per cent increase in dollar terms from a year earlier.

Net manpower addition during the quarter at 1,087 is the highest quarterly increase in the past three years.

"Sixty per cent of this was at the entry level in order to prepare for the future and leverage lower costs. Enhanced compensation, wider spectrum of opportunities and leadership development initiatives should bring the attrition level under control, B Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Satyam said.

Satyam added 29 new customers in Q3 including six Fortune 500 companies.

"It is significant to mention that 75 per cent of our new customer wins last quarter came in competition with large Indian players and global IT services companies with enhanced offshore capabilities," said Raju.

Nipuna, Satyam's BPO subsidiary, recorded a revenue of Rs 3.49 crore (Rs 349 million) in Q3, and now has 297 employees working for eight customers. In Q4, Satyam plans to enhance Nipuna's seat capacity to thrice the current level.