Bharti Airtel has successfully completed the first phase of a strategic initiative in partnership with the 4 Corps of the Indian Army to strengthen mobile connectivity across remote regions in Arunachal Pradesh. This milestone deployment makes Bharti Airtel the first and only service provider to deliver reliable mobile connectivity in the mountainous, high-altitude, and difficult-to-access region. The initiative enables both military and civil personnel residing in these remote locations to stay seamlessly connected with their families.

As part of the initiative, the company deployed network infrastructure across 30 Army stations located in challenging mountainous terrain. The deployment significantly enhances voice and data connectivity in areas where access has historically remained limited due to geographical and infrastructure constraints. This achievement was made possible through strong collaboration between the company and the Indian Army, which extended extensive logistical support throughout the project, including assistance for fiber deployment and power infrastructure. In several locations where road access was not possible, the Indian Army provided the necessary assistance and logistics support to move technical teams and telecommunication equipment deep into the mountains.

The successful completion of Phase 1 has paved the way for the next chapter of the project. Encouraged by the impact of the initial deployment, the Indian Army and Bharti Airtel have agreed to undertake Phase 2. Under this next phase, network sites will be built across 15 additional locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

Balaji R, CEO – North East and Assam, Bharti Airtel, highlighted the operational challenges overcome during the rollout. “This initiative reflects Airtel’s continued commitment to extending connectivity to some of the country’s most difficult terrains. The rollout required extensive coordination between Airtel teams and local support units to overcome immense terrain and weather-related challenges,” he said. “Our teams operated under demanding high-altitude conditions and adverse weather to ensure timely and secure network activation. We are deeply grateful to the Indian Army for their unparalleled logistical support, which made it possible to bring digital connectivity to these frontier regions.”

Project Overview

The continued expansion into such challenging environments reflects the company's commitment to bridging the digital divide and powering India’s digital transformation.

Pastel Limited, a promoter group entity of Bharti Airtel , has confirmed that it did not create any encumbrance on the shares of the telecommunications company during the financial year 2025-26. The disclosure, submitted to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited, ensures that the promoter's shareholding remains free from charges such as pledges or hypothecation. This compliance is significant for shareholders as it indicates the promoter's holding is not leveraged against the shares during the specified period.

The declaration was made pursuant to Regulation 31(4) of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011. The regulation mandates promoters to disclose any encumbrance created on the shares of the target company. In its filing, Pastel Limited clarified that neither it nor Viridian Limited, a person acting in concert, made any encumbrance on the shares of Bharti Airtel Limited, directly or indirectly, throughout the financial year.

Key Disclosures

The confirmation was signed by Kesaven Moothoosamy, Authorised Signatory of Pastel Limited, on April 08, 2026. Copies of the disclosure were addressed to the Audit Committee and the Company Secretary of Bharti Airtel Limited for their records. The filing confirms that the promoter group's holdings remained unencumbered during FY26.