Bharti Airtel has paid a penalty of ₹2,08,000 to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) following a notice regarding alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecom operator received the communication from the Karnataka LSA on June 16, 2026, and decided not to contest the order. The financial impact is limited to the penalty amount levied by the authority.

The notice was issued under the terms of the License agreement, which mandates the company to ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers. The DoT conducts periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) Audits to confirm compliance with these licensing terms and conditions. The penalty was imposed following such an audit by the authority.

Rohit Krishan Puri, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer at Bharti Airtel, disclosed the details of the notice to the exchanges under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The company confirmed that the information submitted regarding the penalty and the subsequent decision to pay it was true and correct to the best of its knowledge.

The table below outlines the key details of the regulatory action:

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.