Airtel To Contribute To Punjab's Digital Inclusion Agenda

Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”), a global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today said that it will invest over INR 4000 crores in the Indian State of Punjab over the next 5 years to expand services and contribute to the Government of Punjab’s digital inclusion agenda.

Airtel and the Government of Punjab today signed an agreement on the sidelines of the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, under which Airtel will take its high speed 4G LTE services to all towns and villages across Punjab and put the State on the data superhighway.

Airtel launched Punjab’s first 4G LTE services in Chandigarh Tri-City in March 2013, making it one of the first States in India to experience the world-class technology. As part of the agreement, the Company will lay an additional 10,000 km of optic fibre across Punjab and expand its 4G footprint to cover most of the State’s population over the next few years. This will provide a major boost to growth of broadband services in rural areas and enable delivery of services such e-governance, e-education, e-health and much more. In particular, it will provider fillip to the growth of the digital economy in the State and support businesses as well as the Government.

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Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises said, “Airtel has been at the forefront of Punjab’s telecom growth story and we are delighted to be a partner in Government of Punjab’s vision to build a digitally inclusive State. Just like the mobile phone connected millions across Punjab, this high speed data connectivity initiative will further empower people with information and services available at the touch of a screen. I am confident that this initiative will make Punjab a model State for rest of the country.”

In addition, Airtel will invest in its existing 2G mobile operations, Wire-line & DSL Broadband, DTH services, M-Commerce Services offering in the State. It will also expand its Enterprise Services offerings that provide end-to-end technology solutions to Corporates and SMEs.

Airtel launched mobile services in Punjab in 2002 and is the largest mobile operator in the State with over 7.2 million customers. Till date, it has invested over INR 4800 crore in its operations in the State and its mobile network covers all 162 towns and 12,750 villages, reaching 94% of the population. The Company’s distribution network across Punjab spans 50,000 retailers and its operations provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to over 65,000 people across the State.