Bharti Airtel has received a regulatory order from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) imposing a financial disincentive of INR 51.10 lakhs. The telecommunications major disclosed this development through a filing under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations on April 10, 2026.

Regulatory Action Details

The TRAI order pertains to alleged violations of complaint redressal procedures under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018. The regulatory action covers the company's performance during the quarter ended June 2024.

Nature of Non-Compliance

The financial disincentive has been levied for alleged shortcomings in the redressal of complaints, which TRAI determined were not in line with the provisions of Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018. These regulations govern how telecom operators handle commercial communications and customer preferences regarding promotional messages and calls.

Company's Response and Financial Impact

Bharti Airtel has stated that it does not agree with the TRAI order and plans to take appropriate action for rectification or reversal of the decision. The company has indicated that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the financial disincentive levied, which amounts to INR 51.10 lakhs.

Regulatory Compliance Framework

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 regulatory filing, confirming that the information provided is true, correct, and complete to the best of the company's knowledge and belief.

This regulatory action highlights the ongoing scrutiny of telecom operators' compliance with customer preference regulations, particularly in managing commercial communications and addressing customer complaints in a timely and effective manner.

Bharti Airtel Limited has disclosed receiving penalty notices from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) totaling ₹8.34 lakh for alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecommunications major received two separate notices on April 08, 2026, under its regulatory disclosure obligations.

Penalty Details

The company received notices from two DoT circles with varying penalty amounts and response strategies:

Nature of Violations

Both penalty notices relate to alleged violations of subscriber verification norms during Customer Application Form (CAF) audits. Under the licensing agreement, Bharti Airtel is required to:

• Ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers
• Comply with instructions issued by DoT regarding subscriber verification
• Maintain compliance with licensing terms and conditions during periodic CAF audits

The DoT conducts these periodic audits to confirm telecom operators' compliance with subscriber verification requirements.

Company Response Strategy

Bharti Airtel has adopted different approaches for the two penalty notices. For the Assam circle penalty of ₹6.32 lakh, the company stated it "does not agree with the Notice and will take appropriate action(s) for rectification/reversal of the same." However, for the Karnataka circle penalty of ₹2.02 lakh, the company "has opted not to contest and pay the penalty."

Financial Impact

The company disclosed that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the penalties levied. The total penalty amount of ₹8.34 lakh represents the quantifiable monetary impact on the company's operations.

Regulatory Compliance

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri signed the disclosure on April 09, 2026, confirming that the information provided is true, correct, and complete to the best of the company's knowledge and belief.