Bharti Airtel Limited has received a penalty notice of Rs 1,04,000 from the Department of Telecommunications for alleged violation of subscriber verification norms. The telecommunications major disclosed this development under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations on April 08, 2026.

Penalty Details and Background

The penalty notice was issued by the Department of Telecommunications, Maharashtra LSA following a Customer Application Form (CAF) audit conducted for December 2025. The regulatory authority alleged violations of subscriber verification norms under the company's License Agreement.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Under the terms of its License Agreement, Bharti Airtel is required to ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers and comply with instructions issued by DoT in this regard. The Department of Telecommunications conducts periodic Customer Application Form audits to confirm compliance with licensing terms and conditions.

The CAF audit process is designed to verify that telecommunications operators maintain proper documentation and follow prescribed procedures for customer onboarding and verification.

Company's Response and Financial Impact

Bharti Airtel has decided not to contest the penalty and will pay the imposed amount of Rs 1,04,000. The company stated that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the penalty levied.

Disclosure Compliance

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Clause 20 of Para A of Part A of Schedule III of SEBI Listing Regulations. Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri signed the disclosure document, confirming that the information provided is true, correct and complete to the best of the company's knowledge and belief.

This penalty represents a routine regulatory matter for the telecommunications operator, with the financial impact being minimal given the company's scale of operations.

Bharti Airtel has significantly strengthened its 5G network infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh (East) through the deployment of over 4,300 new cell sites in the last 12 months. This major expansion covers 48 districts across the region, reaching 34 million people and representing a substantial investment in the company's telecommunications infrastructure.

Comprehensive Network Deployment Strategy

The large-scale network expansion was undertaken across 48 districts of UP East circle, with Bharti Airtel adding an average of 12 new sites every day. This accelerated rollout ensures high-speed connectivity across urban centres, growth towns, and remote rural villages throughout the region.

Enhanced Coverage Across Key Cities

Customers in major urban centres including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, and Jhansi will directly benefit from this enhanced network footprint. The expanded coverage enables seamless access to high-speed 5G services, supporting digital needs of citizens, students, micro entrepreneurs, enterprises, and government institutions across urban and rural markets.

New Service Offerings and Market Strategy

To complement the network expansion, Bharti Airtel has launched a comprehensive service package for UP East customers. The company now offers a fully unlimited data plan for 28 days providing unlimited 4G and 5G data across 24 hours along with unlimited calls in its ₹399 recharge pack for smartphone users.

Strategic Market Positioning

According to Amit Gupta, CEO of Bharti Airtel UP East, the region represents one of Airtel's most strategic markets. The expansion underscores the company's commitment to strengthening digital connectivity and building a resilient digital backbone that enables growth, inclusion, and innovation across eastern Uttar Pradesh. The deployment ensures robust, future-ready connectivity across rural areas, semi-urban villages, highways, border areas, and key economic and cultural corridors.