Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has issued a stark warning about India's telecom sector pricing strategy, calling the current ₹200 pricing model unsustainable and advocating for essential tariff repairs. Speaking at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Mittal emphasized that achieving India's digital ambitions requires a robust business model capable of supporting continuous multi-billion-dollar investments.

Current ARPU Trajectory and Target Aspirations

Bharti Airtel has witnessed significant ARPU improvement in recent years, rising from approximately ₹200 to about ₹250. However, Mittal maintains that these levels still fall short of ensuring the sector's long-term financial health.

Mittal noted that the ₹300 target was established eight or nine years ago without any inflation adjustments, making it a conservative benchmark in real terms.

Investment Requirements and Infrastructure Needs

The telecom sector's capital-intensive nature demands substantial ongoing investments across multiple areas. Mittal outlined the company's commitment to maintaining significant capital expenditure levels.

"We are not talking about investments for the faint hearted, there are billions of dollars going every year into the network, into spectrum," Mittal stated, emphasizing the need for reasonable business cases to support such investments.

Market Consolidation and Competition Dynamics

The Indian telecom landscape has undergone dramatic consolidation, reducing from 12 operators to effectively three players. Mittal expressed support for Vodafone Idea's potential comeback, stating that "three plus one is good for India" given the country's size and market requirements.

Regarding the AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) resolution for Vodafone Idea, Mittal indicated that Bharti Enterprises has also written to the government seeking attention on their AGR issues, focusing on reassessment and recalculation of what he termed "manifest errors."

Technology Evolution and Future Investments

Mittal outlined the company's strategic focus on emerging technologies and infrastructure development:

Data Center Expansion

• Target capacity: One gigawatt
• Timeline: Three to four years
• Current project: Large data center in Vizag with Google
• Objective: Double current capacity

Sovereign Cloud Initiative

• Partnership approach: Collaborating with IBM and Google
• Target market: Indian enterprise cloud hosting
• Current status: Already operational with marquee customers
• Expansion plans: Indian and African markets

6G Development

While acknowledging that 6G standards are still being formed and deployment remains years away, Mittal emphasized the company's role as a technology adopter focused on societal betterment rather than technology production.

AI Integration and Fraud Prevention

The company has positioned itself as a leading operator globally in spam and fraud prevention, utilizing AI to block billions of malicious messages and calls. Mittal indicated plans for expanded AI investments, particularly in data center infrastructure and sovereign cloud services.

Market Outlook and Pricing Strategy

Mittal expressed optimism about 2026 serving as a potential turning point for the telecom sector. He anticipates ARPU levels approaching ₹300 through a combination of calibrated tariff increases and more rational, value-based packaging strategies.

The chairman argued that rational pricing, supported by competition among three strong private operators, would create an optimal balance between consumer affordability and operator sustainability. He emphasized that the era of "giving everything away for ₹200" to capture market share has become unsustainable in the current consolidated market environment.

Bharti Airtel has reached a significant milestone in Gujarat by inaugurating its 100th retail store in the state at Tragad, Ahmedabad on January 22, 2026. This achievement marks a crucial step in the telecommunications giant's expansion strategy across one of India's key markets.

Strategic Expansion Across Gujarat

With the launch of the Tragad store, Airtel now maintains operations across 34 districts in Gujarat, establishing a robust presence in major markets. The company has strategically positioned itself in key cities and regions throughout the state.

Adarsh Verma, CEO of Bharti Airtel Gujarat, emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating that opening the 100th retail store reflects customer trust across the state. He highlighted that retail stores play a critical role in delivering personalized support and simplifying access to digital services.

Comprehensive Service Portfolio

The newly opened store functions as a comprehensive service destination, providing customers with access to Airtel's complete range of offerings. The facility is designed to cater to diverse customer needs across personal and business segments.

Available Services:

• High-speed Airtel Wi-Fi connections
• Prepaid and postpaid mobile plans
• Airtel Digital TV services
• IPTV services
• Digital solutions for small businesses

The store features an experienced Airtel relationship team that provides on-the-spot assistance for various customer requirements including new connections, upgrades, bill payments, and service queries. This approach ensures customers receive seamless service experience at the retail location.

Market Positioning and Growth Strategy

Gujarat remains a priority market for Airtel, driven by increasing demand for high-speed connectivity, digital entertainment, and personalized service support. The company's retail expansion strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint across different market segments to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Corporate Overview and Global Presence

Bharti Airtel operates as a global communications solutions provider headquartered in India, serving over 500 million customers across 17 countries in South Asia and Africa. The company ranks among the top three mobile operators globally, with networks covering over two billion people.

The milestone aligns with Airtel's broader mission of connecting communities and enabling digital access across India, combining strong network infrastructure with high-quality, accessible customer service experience. This expansion demonstrates the company's commitment to bringing digital services closer to customers across diverse geographical locations in Gujarat.