Bharti Airtel has received two penalty notices from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) totaling ₹2.53 lakh for alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecom operator disclosed this information to stock exchanges on February 28, 2026, in compliance with SEBI listing regulations.

Penalty Details

The company received two separate penalty notices from different DoT circles for subscriber verification violations:

Regulatory Background

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. The Department of Telecommunications conducts periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) audits to confirm compliance with licensing terms and conditions.

The DoT conducted sample CAF audits for November 2025 and December 2025, during which it alleged violations of terms and conditions related to subscriber verification norms under the license agreement.

Company Response

Bharti Airtel has decided to accept both penalties without contesting them. The company stated that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the penalties levied. This approach suggests the company views the penalty amounts as manageable and prefers to resolve the matter quickly rather than engage in prolonged regulatory proceedings.

Financial Impact

The total penalty of ₹2.53 lakh represents a minimal financial impact for the telecom giant. The company has confirmed that the financial implications are restricted to the penalty amounts, with no additional operational or business impact expected from these violations.

The disclosure was made by Company Secretary & Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri as part of the company's regulatory compliance obligations under SEBI listing requirements.

Bharti Airtel Limited has received a formal order from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) imposing a financial disincentive of ₹17.01 lakh for alleged regulatory non-compliance. The telecommunications major disclosed this development through an official regulatory filing under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations, submitted to both NSE and BSE on February 27, 2026.

Official TRAI Order Details

The regulatory filing reveals that TRAI has levied a financial penalty amounting to ₹17,01,000 (Rupees Seventeen Lakh One Thousand only) on the company. The order was received on February 27, 2026 at 11:23 AM IST, with the penalty relating to alleged violations during the quarter ended March 2024.

Nature of Regulatory Violation

According to the official disclosure submitted to stock exchanges, the penalty stems from "redressal of complaints not in line with provisions of Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018." The violation specifically relates to the company's complaint handling mechanisms during the quarter ended March 2024, which allegedly did not comply with prescribed regulatory standards.

Company's Official Response

In the regulatory filing signed by Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri, Bharti Airtel has formally stated its disagreement with the TRAI order. The company declared that it "does not agree with the Order and will take appropriate action(s) for rectification/reversal of the same."

Regarding financial implications, the company has clarified in its disclosure that "the maximum financial impact/implication is to the extent of the financial disincentive levied," effectively limiting the monetary impact to ₹17.01 lakh.

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. The formal communication was addressed to both National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited, ensuring compliance with dual listing requirements. The company has declared that all information provided in the disclosure is "true, correct and complete to the best of our knowledge and belief" in accordance with Regulation 30(13) of SEBI Listing Regulations.

This regulatory action highlights the telecommunications sector's stringent compliance requirements, particularly regarding customer preference regulations and complaint redressal mechanisms established under TRAI's framework.