Bharti Airtel has strengthened its network infrastructure across Odisha, deploying over 1,500 new 5G sites in the last 12 months to manage the anticipated surge in voice and data traffic during the Puri Rath Yatra. The enhancements cover 30 districts and focus on major road and rail corridors leading to Puri to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for over 11 million customers. These upgrades are equipped with 5G technology to support high-speed data services during peak crowd movement at the annual festival.

The comprehensive network readiness program targets urban centres, emerging towns, and rural communities. Bharti Airtel has specifically bolstered infrastructure in Puri to handle the significant influx of devotees. The company stated that these investments reaffirm its commitment to delivering a reliable and superior network experience throughout the celebrations.

Abhirup Chatterjee, COO – Bharti Airtel, emphasized that ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during the Rath Yatra is the company's utmost priority. He noted that extensive network enhancements have been completed across Puri and key travel corridors to support millions of devotees attending the event from across the country and abroad.

To further improve the customer experience during the festival, Airtel Odisha launched Fully Unlimited Packs starting from ₹399. These packs offer unlimited 4G and 5G data and calls for all prepaid smartphone users, allowing customers to stream, share, work, and study without daily data limits.

Key Network Enhancements

Bharti Airtel Limited has fixed Friday, July 24, 2026, as the record date for determining members eligible for the payment of the final dividend for FY 2025-26. The Board of Directors has recommended a dividend of ₹24 per fully paid-up equity share with a face value of ₹5 each and ₹6 per partly paid-up equity share with a face value of ₹5 each (paid-up value of ₹1.25 per share). The dividend is subject to approval of shareholders at the 31st Annual General Meeting ('AGM') scheduled for Monday, August 3, 2026, at 2:30 P.M. (IST) through Video Conferencing. Upon approval, the dividend will be paid within 30 days to members whose names appear in the register of members or depository records as of the close of business hours on July 24, 2026, subject to deduction of tax at source. The proposed dividend represents a 50% increase over the previous year, in line with the Company's philosophy of progressive growth in payouts alongside continued investments in core business and new growth engines.

Dividend Details

AGM Schedule and E-Voting

The 31st AGM will be conducted through Video Conferencing. The Integrated Annual Report for FY 2025-26 is being sent electronically to all members whose email addresses are registered with the Company, Depositories, or Depository Participants as on Friday, July 3, 2026. Members whose email addresses are not registered will receive a physical communication containing a link and QR code to access the Notice and Annual Report.

The Company is providing the facility of remote e-voting and e-voting at the AGM. The cut-off date for reckoning voting rights is Monday, July 27, 2026. KFin Technologies Limited has been engaged as the Authorised Agency for e-voting.

Key Resolutions at the AGM

The AGM agenda covers both ordinary and special businesses. Ordinary resolutions include adoption of audited standalone and consolidated financial statements for FY 2025-26, declaration of the final dividend, and re-appointment of Mr. Gopal Vittal and Mr. Tao Yih Arthur Lang as directors liable to retire by rotation. Special businesses include ratification of remuneration to Cost Auditors, re-appointment of Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal as Chairman for a further five-year term effective October 1, 2026, re-appointment of Ms. Nisaba Godrej as Independent Director for a second term of five years from August 4, 2026, and approval of material related party transactions.

Material Related Party Transactions

Shareholder approval is being sought for material related party transactions with two entities, with the following proposed annual limits:

Transactions with Indus Towers cover availing passive infrastructure services, rendering of telecom services, reimbursement of energy expenses, and purchase or sale of business assets. Transactions with Dixon cover purchase or sale of telecom and networking products such as GPON, ONT, FWA, IPTV boxes, modems, and routers, along with rendering of telecom services and reimbursement of expenses. All proposed transactions are to be carried out at arm's length and in the ordinary course of business.

FY 2025-26 Financial Performance Highlights

Bharti Airtel delivered record-high consolidated revenue of ₹2,109,728 million in FY 2025-26, marking a 16.2% year-on-year increase. Standalone revenue grew 11.5% year-on-year to ₹1,214,927 million. The following table summarises key consolidated and standalone financial metrics:

Consolidated EBITDAaL margin stood at 51.2%, with EBIT margin at 32.3%. The net debt-to-EBITDAaL ratio improved to 1.3x at end of March 2026 versus 2.1x at the end of March 2025. Operating free cash flow (EBITDAaL minus Capex) reached a lifetime high of over ₹604 billion. The Company's market capitalisation stood at approximately ₹10.8 trillion as of March 2026, representing nearly 7.8x growth over the past decade.

Operational Highlights

Airtel's total customer base reached 665,966 thousand globally. In India, the mobile services customer base grew to 373.2 million, with industry-leading ARPU of ₹257, up ₹12 year-on-year. The Homes segment delivered a record 4.2 million net customer additions during the year, taking the customer base to 14.2 million. Airtel Africa operations delivered constant currency revenue growth of 24.0% and EBITDA growth of 30.5%, with total customers increasing 10.5% to 183.5 million. The 5G customer base grew to 188 million, with Airtel's 5G Plus network carrying half of all wireless data traffic on the network.

Compliance and KYC Requirements

SEBI has mandated simplified norms for processing investor service requests. Members holding shares in physical form must furnish PAN, KYC details — including contact and bank details — to remain eligible for lodging grievances or service requests. Any payments, including dividends, will be made electronically only after these details are registered.

Special Window for Share Transfer

Pursuant to a SEBI circular dated January 30, 2026, a special window is open from February 5, 2026, to February 4, 2027. This facility allows members to re-lodge physical share transfer requests that were originally submitted before April 1, 2019, but were rejected or returned due to deficiencies. Upon verification, shares will be transferred only in dematerialized form.

Members with queries regarding the registration process or the special window may contact KFin Technologies Limited via email at einward.ris@kfintech.com or call the toll-free number 1800 309 4001.

Source: https://lodr-files.dhan.co/lodr-inputs/Company/INE397D01024/38db7612861e4d1a.pdf