Bharti Airtel Limited's Board of Directors has approved a significant call payment on its partly paid-up equity shares, marking an important step in the company's capital structure optimization. The decision was taken during a board meeting held on December 18, 2025.

Call Payment Details

The board has approved the first and final call of ₹401.25 per share, which includes a premium of ₹397.50, on 392,287,662 outstanding partly paid-up equity shares. These shares have a face value of ₹5.00 each with a current paid-up value of ₹1.25 each, and were originally issued on a rights basis pursuant to the Letter of Offer dated September 22, 2021.

Key Dates and Timeline

The company has established a clear timeline for the call payment process. The record date has been fixed for Friday, February 6, 2026, which will determine the holders of partly paid-up equity shares liable to pay the call amount.

Trading in the partly paid-up equity shares of the company (ISIN: IN9397D01014) on stock exchanges will be suspended with effect from February 6, 2026.

Fund Utilization and Strategic Impact

The proceeds from the call payment will be utilized primarily for pre-payment/repayment of borrowings, including accrued interest, and general corporate purposes. This strategic move is expected to strengthen the company's financial position.

Following the pre-payment/repayment of borrowings, combined with organic cash generation, Bharti Airtel's India Operations are expected to become effectively net debt-free in the near term. The company will retain only DoT liabilities and Finance Lease Obligations, thereby further strengthening its balance sheet.

Administrative Details

The board meeting commenced at 16:45 hours IST and concluded at 17:45 hours IST on December 18, 2025. Further details regarding the call payment will be provided in a Call Notice, which will be circulated in due course to all relevant stakeholders.

This call payment represents the completion of the rights issue process initiated in 2021 and demonstrates the company's commitment to optimizing its capital structure while maintaining financial flexibility for future growth opportunities.

Bharti Airtel has disclosed receiving a penalty notice from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecommunications major received the notice on December 16, 2025, at 13:27 hours IST, imposing a penalty of ₹2.09 lakh for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

Penalty Details and Regulatory Background

The penalty was imposed by the Department of Telecommunications, Karnataka LSA (DoT), following their periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) audit. Under the terms of the 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.

Audit Findings and Violations

DoT conducted a sample CAF audit for October 2025 as part of its periodic compliance monitoring process. The audit revealed alleged violations of terms and conditions with respect to subscriber verification norms under the License Agreement. These verification requirements are fundamental licensing obligations that telecommunications operators must maintain to ensure proper customer onboarding processes.

The regulatory framework mandates that telecom companies implement robust subscriber verification mechanisms before activating services. This includes proper documentation, identity verification, and adherence to Know Your Customer (KYC) norms as prescribed by DoT guidelines.

Company Response and Financial Impact

Bharti Airtel has opted not to contest the penalty and will proceed with payment. The company has assessed that the maximum financial impact from this regulatory action is limited to the extent of the penalty levied, which amounts to ₹2.09 lakh.

Regulatory Compliance Framework

This penalty notice highlights the ongoing regulatory oversight in India's telecommunications sector. DoT regularly conducts CAF audits to ensure operators maintain compliance with licensing terms and conditions, particularly regarding subscriber verification processes. These audits serve as quality control mechanisms to protect consumer interests and maintain industry standards.

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations, demonstrating the company's commitment to transparency in regulatory matters. Bharti Airtel has confirmed that the information provided is true, correct, and complete to the best of their knowledge and belief, as required under compliance obligations.