Airtel’s 5G SA Readiness

Standalone 5G, often called 5G SA, is an advanced 5G architecture that runs on a dedicated 5G core. This is different from non-standalone 5G, which depends on the existing 4G core network. In simple terms, 5G SA gives an operator a stronger technology base to support lower latency, better network efficiency, enterprise use cases, network slicing, and more advanced digital services over time.

Also Read: One Airtel Launched by Bharti Airtel as a New Bundled Service

Bharti Airtel said its 5G network is now fully SA ready. However, the company is not moving all mobile users at once. Mobile customers are being transitioned in a phased manner, which suggests a more measured rollout strategy. This approach makes sense because the real value of standalone 5G will depend on multiple factors, including device readiness, customer use cases, network demand, and monetisation opportunities.

FWA Already Runs on Standalone 5G

The more immediate development is in fixed wireless access. Airtel said FWA is already running fully on standalone 5G. This is important because FWA has become one of the most visible 5G use cases for telecom operators in India. It allows operators to offer home broadband-like connectivity through wireless 5G, especially in areas where laying fiber may take more time or where the cost of deployment is higher.

For Bharti Airtel, FWA has helped expand the addressable market in the homes business. During the call, the company said its homes business delivered another strong quarter, with net additions of 1.1 million in Q4. Airtel also added 4.2 million homes customers during FY26. This shows that the homes segment is becoming a major growth area for the company, supported by fiber, FWA, IPTV, and convergence-led plans.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Has a Low-Cost Cricket Streaming Pack and It Costs Just Rs 48

Fiber Still Remains the Preferred Route

Even though FWA is running on standalone 5G, Airtel made it clear that fiber remains its preferred long-term route wherever available. The company said if it can get a customer on fiber, that is the best type of customer. FWA is being used more as a reach-expansion tool in places where fiber cannot be deployed quickly or efficiently.

This is also linked to changing device economics Airtel said the cost of fixed wireless access equipment has increased in recent months due to rising chipset and memory prices. Around a year ago, the cost to connect a home using FWA was broadly similar to fiber. That equation has now changed as a result, Airtel has pivoted the organisation back to a stronger fiber-first approach and is using digital tools to avoid installing FWA in places where fiber is already available.

Why This Matters for Airtel

Airtel’s 5G SA readiness should be seen along with its wider network investment plan the company said it is investing in strengthening its transport layer and launching advanced 5G capabilities. It also said radio capex in India is moderating, while transport capex will remain an area of focus. This indicates that the next phase of network investment is not only about adding radio sites, but also about improving the deeper network layer that supports quality, resilience, low latency, and future services.

Also Read: Airtel 5G Delivers 257 Mbps on a Train Moving at 100+ kmph, Showing Strong Mobility Performance

The company is also working on building 56 world-class edge data centres over the next 18 to 24 months. This becomes relevant because standalone 5G and edge computing can together support future low-latency use cases. Over time, this could matter for enterprise applications, cloud services, industrial connectivity, gaming, video, IoT, and private network use cases.

A Measured 5G Strategy

For consumers, the shift to 5G SA may not bring an immediate overnight change in mobile experience. Today, most users still look at 5G through the lens of speed and data availability. But for operators, standalone 5G is about preparing for a deeper technology shift. It gives Bharti Airtel the ability to build differentiated services when the market is ready.

Airtel’s approach appears practical the network is fully SA ready, FWA is already on SA, and mobile users will move in phases. At the same time, the company is strengthening fiber, transport, edge data centres, and digital capabilities. This suggests that Airtel is preparing its 5G network not just for faster mobile data, but for a broader future built around homes, enterprise services, edge computing, and advanced digital applications.

Dhurandhar 1 and 2 Both Online Available

Dhurandhar 1 is available on Netflix since January 2026. Dhurandhar 2 was released in March, and since then hass been running in theatres. It can soon touch Rs 1800 crore in gross collection, and that is what the production house might be waiting for before removing it from the cinema halls. Dhurandhar 2 is said to come with an extended cut online. Note that this has not been confirmed by the brand. This is just an onging online rumour.

Dhurandhar 2 JioHotstar Release Date (Confirmed)

Dhurandhar 2 JioHotstar OTT release date has been confirmed for June 4, 2026 for the grand digital premiere at 7 pm. Dhurandhar 2 will be available for regular streaming from June 5, 2026 for the users. This is an Adult rated movie, and could feature some scenes that were earlier cut and didn’t make it to the theatres. As per reports, Dhurandhar 2 will feature three minutes of additional scenes that were removed from the original cut before it was released for the public theatres and

Dhurandhar 2 is still running in the theatres/cinema halls in India. The movie, starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal and plenty of other Indian stellar category actors will soon be available to be streamed online.

JioHotstar will not offer free Dhurandhar 2 online streaming. From June 5, if you have a JioHotstar subscription, even the mobile one, then you can watch the movie at the comfort of your home.

Kartavya OTT Platform: Where to Stream

Kartavya is available on Netflix. It won’t be available for free streaming. Netflix requires people to get monthly access to the OTT platform if they want to watch something. Kartavya is a crime thriller and it is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment Production, a production house owned by Shah Rukh Khan.

The movie is written and directed by Pulkit.

What is Kartavya Netflix About?

Kartavya on Netflix is an intense crime thriller, where a police officer must decide how far he will go to uphold his duty when his family’s safety is at stake and threats are closing in.

Kartavya Netflix Cast

Kartavya features the OG star, Saif Ali Khan alongisde Rasika Dugal and Sanjay Mishra. It is available in multiple languages (dubbed). Reviews for the movie are not out yet, since it was just released.

Netflix Plans Cost to Watch Kartavya

Netflix has prepaid monthly plans starting at Rs 149 (Mobile Plan) for users to stream content. However, the mobile plan allows streaming in only 480p resolution, which is not super good to be honest. The best budget plan from Netflix in India is the Basic plan which costs Rs 199 per month and allows users to stream videos in good quality and it can be streamed in multiple devices including phone, tablet and laptop.

For a higher resolution plan, you will have to for the Standard or the Premium plan which cost Rs 499 or Rs 649 per month.

Airtel Looks for Alternate Sources of Energy

Bharti Airtel is looking for other sources of energy to reduce the dependence on diesel. The telco will most likely look at solar power options (green energy options) to reduce costs in the long run.

In the Q4 FY26 results, Airtel said, “We are amplifying our efforts, in collaboration with Indus Towers, to significantly reduce dependence on diesel by transitioning to high powered batteries and alternate sources of energy.”

Indus Towers is now owned by Bharti Airtel. The telco owns over 51% stake in the tower company and thus, working with Indus as a customer is now easier for Airtel. Bharti Group is already working to reduce its carbon footprint as fast as possible. To that extent, the telco would have reduced its dependence on traditional fuel sources such as petrol and diesel anyway. But now, due to the rising prices, which are expected to rise even further in the near future, Airtel will likely speed up this process.

Airtel disel usage metric usage is not available publicly thus we can’t comment on how much the price change would affect the telecom operator in terms of cash outflow. However, one thing is for sure, to offset the rising costs of business, and then earn a better margin on top of that, Airtel could go for a tariff hike in the near future.

The telco said that this is due to a broken pricing architecture. This is not the even the first time Airtel is talking about the tariff structure. Airtel said that compared to the previous quarter, Q4 FY26 had two days less. If it was the same number of days, Airtel would have seen an ARPU increase of Rs 3, the management projected.

Airtel Vice Chairman Comments on ARPU and West Asia Crisis

Gopal Vittal, executive vice chairman of Bharti Airtel expressed his disappointment with the ARPU of the telco. Vittal has talked many times about the need for the tariff structure to change in India. Users who consume more should pay more is the architecture Airtel is advocating for.

“We are not happy with our ARPU increase of only ?3 for the quarter. Part of this issue was linked to the West Asia crisis and (its impact on) international roaming revenues. But we are now determined to double down on all our levers on ARPU and grow and accelerate the pace,” Vittal said at the earnings call of Bharti Airtel for Q4 FY26.

Airtel’s ARPU is still the highest. The telco will deinfitely want to go for a tariff hike to reach the Rs 300 ARPU figure as soon as possible. Apart from that, the telco sees a great opportunity in upgrading users from prepaid to postpaid services for boosting ARPU. Airtel said that it added 0.8 million users in the postpaid segment during the quarter. The number is growing, but is staying steady at this pace.

The amendments follow a consultation process initiated on 27 February 2026, during which TRAI sought stakeholder feedback on proposed changes to the 2024 Regulations and the Rating Manual. Inputs were received from property managers, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs), service providers, and other stakeholders, highlighting operational challenges such as rating differentiation, assessment of under-construction properties, classification of property types, and the need for preliminary audits prior to formal rating applications.

Additional Star Rating Levels

Based on stakeholder consultations and implementation experience, TRAI has expanded the rating framework by introducing additional half-star levels, increasing the scale from five to nine levels. According to TRAI, the revised structure is aimed at improving granularity in assessment, enabling clearer differentiation of digital connectivity performance, and supporting more informed consumer decision-making.

Under-Construction Properties Eligible to Apply for Ratings

A significant change allows under-construction properties to be brought under the rating framework through a phased assessment process. DCRAs will now evaluate design-stage digital connectivity infrastructure based on approved plans and issue a “Designed For” certificate.

Upon completion of construction and installation of in-building solutions, an “Installation Completed For” certificate will be issued following evaluation. Final ratings will be awarded once services become operational, enhancing transparency and aligning design commitments with execution outcomes.

Alignment of Property Types with Assessment Criteria

The framework has also been refined to better align property categorisation with usage-specific assessment criteria, improving applicability across different property types.

Optional Digital Connectivity Audit

In addition, TRAI has introduced an optional digital connectivity audit mechanism, enabling property managers to assess existing infrastructure through a registered DCRA without entering the formal rating process. The audit will provide a detailed sub-criteria-wise evaluation and identify areas requiring improvement.

Revision in Code of Conduct for DCRAs

Further, the Code of Conduct for DCRAs has been strengthened to reinforce independence and transparency. It now explicitly restricts DCRAs engaged in providing digital connectivity infrastructure from assessing properties where another DCRA has supplied such infrastructure.

Incorporation of References to National Building Construction Standards (NBCS), 2026

In line with updated national standards, references to the National Building Code have been replaced with the National Building Construction Standards (NBCS), 2026, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

TRAI stated that the revised framework is intended to enhance clarity, strengthen implementation, improve accountability, and promote wider adoption of robust and future-ready digital connectivity infrastructure in properties. The updated Rating Manual reflecting these amendments will be published on TRAI’s official website, and the regulations will come into force with effect from 13 May 13, 2026.

“The Regulations shall apply to property managers seeking rating or audit of properties for digital connectivity, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies, In-Building Solution Providers establishing IBS within properties, and service providers integrating their telecommunication networks with the digital communication infrastructure, including IBS, of the properties for provision of telecommunication services,” the Ministry of Communications said in an official release on May 14, 2026.

Why Mobile Recharge Prices will Go Up Because of Petrol and Diesel Price Hike in India

For a tower to operate, power and fuel account for almost 40% of the operating cost. This development could mean that the cost for operating a mobile tower will go up for the telcos, as diesel, which is used in these towers, has become expensive. For telcos, which operate at a massive scale, could incur hundreds of crores extra just for the diesel every year at this price.

5G towers, which require more energy and diesel to operate will also beccome more expensive for the telcos to manage.

The telcos will also face rising costs in other areas of their business due to the issues in the global supply chain. Telcos were already planning a tariff hike for the Indian market. However, if this was going to happen a little later, we expect that it would now happen much faster.

Are you planning to recharge with the a long term plan before the tariffs go up? If yes, let us know in the comments.

Google recently started sending out notifications to users telling them about a new update for their storage.

Google Gmail 5GB Storage Test

Google is now limiting the free accounts with 5GB of cloud storage only. This used to be 15GB by default. However, if you connect your Gmail account with a phone number, you will get 10GB more. So technically, you will get 15GB of free storage still, but you need to connect a mobile number to your account.

This removes the anonymity for the users. Currently, users make several Gmail accounts with 15GB of cloud storage, and backup their data in these free accounts. Google is now limiting this. This would solve two things for the users. Firstly, it would connect a phone number with the account, giving Google some data about who the user is. Then, the users won’t just simply be able to get 15GB of free storage by giving away nothing to the company.

Note that Google doesn’t really mention it explicitly that everyone needs to connect their phone number right now to get 15GB of free cloud storage, but one of the users, at least, has received this notice from the company. We will update you more on this as developments uncover.

Also Read: Vodafone Idea Clarifies Media Report on Shareholding Transfer Speculation

Birla’s Return as Chairman Strengthens Fundraising Push

The development follows Birla’s recent appointment as non-executive chairman after the government’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) relief package. Sources reportedly said Birla’s return as non-executive chairman, following the recent adjusted gross revenue (AGR) relief, is aligned with ongoing lender negotiations and intended to provide additional comfort to banks. Last week, Vodafone Idea appointed Birla as non-executive chairman, replacing Ravinder Takkar, who has been redesignated as non-executive vice chairman.

Board to Consider Equity Raise and Warrants

In a stock exchange filing on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Vodafone Idea said its board would meet on May 16 to consider raising funds through the issue of equity shares and/or warrants on a preferential basis. According to the report, sources indicated that the proposed equity raise is aimed at reinforcing investor and lender confidence amid the company’s broader fundraising plans.

“The expectation in the market is that this may not be a very large capital raise. It could be more of a confidence-building exercise aimed at reassuring lenders and investors, especially after Kumar Mangalam Birla took over as non-executive chairman,” an unnamed industry analyst was quoted as saying in the report.

Rs 95,000 Crore Funding Gap Remains Key Challenge

The analyst noted that Vodafone Idea’s primary challenge remains its significant funding requirement. “The company needs nearly Rs 95,000 crore, including around Rs 45,000 crore for capital expenditure alone, apart from spectrum liabilities and bank debt obligations. Against this, annual cash generation is still limited, creating a large funding gap that lenders remain concerned about,” he reportedly said.

Promoters — the Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group — have infused capital into Vodafone Idea multiple times since the 2018 merger to support operations, spectrum payments, network expansion and debt servicing. In March 2022, the promoters committed around Rs 4,500 crore through a preferential equity infusion, with Vodafone Group entities contributing approximately Rs 3,375 crore and Aditya Birla Group entities investing around Rs 1,125 crore. The Aditya Birla Group later infused an additional Rs 2,075 crore in 2024.

Banks and SBI-Led Consortium Evaluate Debt Package

Vodafone Idea is currently in talks with a consortium led by State Bank of India to raise nearly Rs 25,000 crore in debt, along with Rs 10,000 crore in letter of credit facilities for the procurement of 4G and 5G network equipment. Discussions accelerated after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) provided relief on the company’s AGR dues, easing near-term cash flow pressures. Lenders are also evaluating Vodafone Idea’s repayment roadmap and earnings outlook before extending fresh loans.

The renewed discussions follow the DoT’s decision to finalise Vodafone Idea’s AGR dues at Rs 64,046 crore, lower than the earlier estimate of Rs 87,695 crore, while deferring a substantial portion of payments to FY36–41. The relief package, announced on April 30, marked the second major government intervention for the debt-laden telecom operator after a similar measure in December.

Continued Promoter Support Since 2018 Merger

According to the report, despite improved lender sentiment following the AGR relief, banks remain cautious over Vodafone Idea’s substantial spectrum liabilities. As of December-end, the company’s spectrum dues stood at around Rs 1.25 lakh crore, with nearly Rs 49,000 crore payable over the next three years. The telecom operator’s bank debt currently stands at approximately Rs 4,400 crore, including Rs 3,300 crore raised through non-convertible debentures via a subsidiary.

BSNL Kavach Latest News May 2026

BSNL Kavach basically offers a virtual number for recharge. This virtual number is very simple to generate and offers an added layer of protection to people, especially women in India from giving out their actual mobile numbers to offline retailers offering recharge services.

This service was announced on the International Women’s Day 2026 by BSNL.

How to Activate BSNL Kavach: Step-by-Step Guide

To activate BSNL Kavach using the BSNL Self Care mobile app, follow these steps:

1. Open the BSNL Self Care app on your smartphone and log-in through your BSNL number.
2. On the homepage of the app, tap on the Kavach/Privacy Shield banner/icon.
3. Click on “Generate Virtual Number” option.
4. You will get an SMS on your registered mobile number with a temporary alias number that you can give out to the retailer for recharging your actual SIM card.
5. When the retailer will rechage your temporary alias or virtual number, your actual SIM card or mobile number will be recharged.

Alternately, you can also activate BSNL Kavach using a USSD code. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Dual *150# from your registered BSNL mobile number.
2. You will get the multiple options, select ‘Value Added Services’ or ‘Privacy Services’.
3. Then, choose ‘BSNL Kavach’ and select ‘Generate Number’.
4. The virtual number or the temporary alias number will be show on your screen and then will also be sent to you via an SMS text.
5. Give this number to the retailer for recharge and your actual phone will be then recharged for you.

Lastly, you can also use the SMS feature on your phone to activate BSNL Kavach and get a temporary recharge number. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Send an SMS with the keyword Kavach to 51500.
2. You will get a reply with a temporary ID valid for the next 24 hours or until the first recharge is made.

This is a free of cost service from BSNL. The temporary number will expire in 24 hours or until the first recharge is made. You will need to generate this number again when you want to recharge next with an alias or virtual number using BSNL Kavach. Note that the best and the fastest way to do it is using the SMS feature on your phone.

With this, you get offline recharge privacy from BSNL.

Also Read: BSNL Prepaid Plans Offering Year-Long Connectivity with Indigenous 4G Technology

BSNL Prepaid Plans

1. BSNL Recharge Rs 439

Pack Type: Recharge, Voice-Only Prepaid Plan
Core Benefits: Unlimited voice calls (Local/STD) on any network in the Home LSA and national roaming, including the MTNL network in Mumbai and Delhi, along with 300 SMS.
Validity: 80 Days
Effective Per-Day Pricing: Approx. Rs 5.49

2. BSNL Recharge Rs 485

Pack Type: Recharge, Prepaid Plan with Daily Data
Core Benefits: Unlimited voice calls, unlimited data with high-speed data capped at 2 GB/day, after which the speed is restricted to 40 kbps, along with 100 SMS/day.
Validity: 72 Days
Effective Per-Day Pricing: Approx. Rs 6.74

3. BSNL Recharge Rs 599

Pack Type: Recharge, Prepaid Plan for Heavy Data Usage
Core Benefits: Unlimited voice calls (Local/STD) on-net/off-net in the Home LSA and national roaming, including Mumbai and Delhi, along with unlimited data with high-speed data capped at 3 GB/day. After the daily limit is exhausted, the speed is reduced to 40 kbps. The plan also includes 100 SMS/day.
Validity: 70 Days
Effective Per-Day Pricing: Approx. Rs 8.56

According to the telco, BSNL’s Rs 599 plan offers non-stop data, unlimited conversations, and long-lasting validity in one powerful recharge.

“When the network is our nation’s own, then every connection isn’t just fast… It’s reliable too. Swadeshi 4G digitally empowers every home, every dream, and every Indian,” BSNL highlighted while emphasising the advantages of its 4G network on social media platforms. With BSNL, every village in India is advancing toward digital progress.

Conclusion

Unlike private telecom operators, BSNL does not offer many plans with an 84-day validity as of this writing. However, users can choose from these available validity plans, as staying connected should never slow them down.

If you are not already a BSNL user, there is no need to worry. BSNL’s Re 1 Free SIM offer is still available for new users until May 31, 2026, ONLY. For just Re 1, users can enjoy 2 GB of high-speed data per day, unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS/day, and 30 days of validity. The offer is available at the nearest BSNL CSC and retail stores.

Also in the 84-Day Validity Series:

Airtel 84-Day Prepaid Recharge Plans: Here’s What You Get in April 2026

Reliance Jio 84-Day Validity Prepaid Plans: April 2026 Edition

Bharti Telecom Will Have More than 50% Stake in Airtel

Sunil Mittal said that Bharti Telecom will have more than 50% stake in Airtel in the future. This will keep the control with one single entity and consolidate operations along with saving time for the company to make important decisions. Along with this, Mittal also talked about his plans to eventually leave the company and hand over the reigns to the next generation.

“Basically, the belief remains that you must have everything through one company that should be the controlling, promoting shareholder. And Bharti Telecom has historically has just not only been the founding promoter of this company, has had almost always for a long period of time, a controlling shareholding of 51,” Mittal said during the earnings call.

“If you really ask me, my own wish is that in the next, I don’t know, it’s hard to put in, you know, years on it, in the next decade. As I kind of come to a point where I hand over the reins to the next generation as shareholders, Bharti telecom should get back to controlling shareholding 51% or just over 50%. So that’s 10% more to go. And for a company of this magnitude and size, you can imagine that it’s not a small task,” he added.

Mittal Talked About Various Entities Contributing to Bharti Telecom

Mittal said that the broader direction is to consolidate the stake of ICIL, Bharti Family entities, and Singtel under Bharti Telecom over time. In addition, Singtel, which has both direct and indirect stake in Airtel, is selling its direct stake to equalise its ownership share with the Mittal family. In a recent share swap decision, Singtel’s direct stake in Airtel reduced to 3.6% from 6%. In the next three to four years, Sunil Mittal believes, Singtel and Mittal family would equalise this ownership structure with all of direct stake of Airte with Singtel being gone.

However, there will also have to be more buybacks by Bharti Airtel, for which the telco will need strong cashflows in the future.

Vodafone Idea Capital Infusion Latest News

Vodafone Idea (Vi) capital infusion will likely be led by Kumar Mangalam Birla via the equity route. Vi is facing hardships when it comes to raising funds via debt. Banks are not confident in giving money to Vi right away. There are a lot of conditions, fairly put by the banks and until the clarity comes, Vi won’t likely get money via debt from the banks.

Vodafone Idea Board Meeting May 16

Vodafone Idea board meeting is scheduled for May 16, 2026. Vi’s board is meeting to consider preferential allotment of equity shares to investors to raise money. If Vi is able to raise money via equity at this stage, it will be looked at as “confidence capital”. This would signal to the market that investors believe the company has a bright future ahead. What’s more is that this equity capital raise could be led by Kumar Mangalam Birla (KMB), chairman of Vodafone Idea.

Kumar Manglam Birla Return Marks an Important Development

Kumar Mangalam Birla returns as Chairman of the ailing Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL). Birla has taken over as the chairman at a time when the government has reduced the AGR (adjusted gross revenue) dues of the telco, and has also relaxed the payment schedule for the next 10 years. This means that Vi now has the room to grow further without much stress on the cash reserves. If Birla infuses capital in Vodafone Idea at this stage, it will be a huge confidence booster for the market.

Vodafone Idea Gets an AGR Dues Reduction

Vodafone Idea has seen the AGR dues going down from Rs 87,695 from to Rs 64,046 crore. The majority of this payment will start from FY36. This will help sustain the cashflow of the company. It will also be a big confidence booster in Vi for the banks and financial institutions looking to lend money via debt.

Vodafone Idea 4G and 5G Expansion

Vodafone Idea will need the funds raised via equity or debt, to expand 4G and 5G across India. The telecom operator needs to do this to ensure that it can keep adding new customers over the near future. Vi has been losing customers in the wireless segment. The telco, recently added new users for consecutive months, as per TRAI (telecom regulatory authority of India) data. With 4G and 5G expansion, this should continue for the time to come.

Dhurandhar 2 is Also Coming on Netflix, But it is Likely Not for You

Note that for Netflix global audience, Dhurandhar 2 will be available to stream on OTT from May 14, 2026. For the Indian audience, the wait will have to be longer as there’s no official date announced by the production or JioHotstar. For India, since the movie is still running on cinema halls, the decision makers would likely wait a little longer to monetise the craze audience still has the film.

Dhurandhar 2 OTT Could be Extended Cut

Dhurandhar 2 OTT release will be massive. There is a lot of excitement for the online release of Dhurandhar 2 amongst fans, especially because it could feature the extended cut version. This simply means that the audience might get to see scenes that were cut from the official release for theatres and cinema halls. Some reports mention that there are three minutes of the movie that the audience will likely get to see for the first time when Dhurandhar 2 is released online. Note that this is not an official confirmation from the production, but just a part of rumours spread online.

The gross collection of Dhurandhar 2, according to media reports online has reached Rs 1,796 crore globally. The movie is inching towards the Rs 1800 crore collection figure. In terms of collections, Dhurandhar 2 has broken many records. Combined, the Dhurandhar franchise has made the kind of money no one really expected when the first part was going to hit the theatres.

A release from Airtel said, “Sunil Bharti Mittal has been reappointed by the Board as Chairman for a further term of five years, i.e., from October 01, 2026, to September 30, 2031, subject to approval of the members.”

Along with this, the Nisaba Godrej has been reappointed as an independent director for a second term by the company’s board (till August 03, 2026). Note that this is currently subject to members approval.

What is Changing for Airtel and ICIL and Airtel Africa?

Bharti Airtel has decided to give 2.3% out of its stake to ICIL, and against that, Airtel will get 16.31% stake in Airtel Africa. Airtel will issue 146.7 million new shares at Rs 1923 a piece for ICIL, representing a 9.5% premium to the previous closing price (May 13). ICIL’s entire stake of about 595.2 million shares (16.31%) in Airtel Africa will be transferred to Airtel in this share swap deal.

This will take Bharti Airtel’s shareholding in Airtel Africa to 79.04% from the previous 62.73%. At the same time, ICIL will increase its stake in Bharti Airtel from 0.95% to 3.25%.

Airtel is Getting Airtel Africa at a Discount, ICIL is Getting Airtel at Premium

Bharti Airtel is giving away the 146.7 million new shares to ICIL at a premium of 9.5% from the previous closing price. At the same time, ICIL is giving Airtel Africa shares to Airtel at a discount of 11.6%. ICIL is getting the shares of Airtel at a premium, while Airtel is getting Airtel Africa at a discount. This creates a winning scneario for the Bharti Group.

Airtel’s board, in a notice to the stock exchanges said, “The board recognised that the transaction is in line with the objective of consolidating/strengthening shareholding in a strategic subsidiary. Apart from being cashless and leverage-neutral, the transaction is accretive to EPS (earnings per share) of Airtel India with additional earnings outweighing the dilution.”

If it was an all cash deal, it would have required Airtel to tap into its cash reserves, which would not have been an ideal scenario for a company in the Indian telecom sector, which requires telcos to spend thousands of crores in capex (capital expenditure).

Today, we want to highlight its 50 Mbps plan that everyone has been talking about. The plan we are talking about costs Rs 399 per month only. Let’s take a look at this plan in detail here.

BSNL Rs 399 Broadband Plan

The BSNL Rs 399 broadband plan is named Spark plan. This is a plan that users in select regions can only get. The Rs 399 broadband plan from BSNL gives users access to 50 Mbps of download and upload speeds. The plan offers 3.3TB of monthly data and unlimited voice calling as well. Note that to get the unlimited voice calling, users need to get their own landline instrument. The calling will be free, however, BSNL does not take the responsibility of providing the users with the landline instrument.

The Rs 399 plan will be available for Rs 449 per month after the first 12 months. The plan will offer 50 Mbps speed up till 3.3TB of data consumption, after which the speed will reduce to 4 Mbps. Note that the final billl will also contain GST (18%), so the total you would end up paying for this plan would be approximately Rs 471 per month. It is still a great offer given the benefits the consumer is getting. The benefits, however, do not contain any IPTV (internet protocol TV) or OTT (over-the-top) benefits.

Vi Deploys 5G Infrastructure Across IT Corridors and Business Districts

“To cater to the city’s rising data demand and dense urban usage, Vi has undertaken targeted network augmentation and deployed robust 5G infrastructure across high-traffic business districts, IT corridors and densely populated residential areas in Hyderabad,” the official release dated May 13, 2026, said.

With this rollout, Vi said its users can experience enhanced mobile broadband speeds, lower latency and more reliable connectivity, ensuring seamless performance across high-traffic zones, business districts and residential areas.

Company Targets Growing Demand for High-Speed Connectivity

Commenting on the development, Rahul Wahal, Business Head – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Vodafone Idea, said “The launch of Vi 5G in Hyderabad marks a significant step in strengthening our presence as it is home to Global tech giants and Innovation Hubs and a top destination for Global Capability Centers (GCCs). With a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem and high data consumption patterns, Hyderabad represents a key market for next-generation connectivity. We remain committed to expanding our 5G footprint in a phased manner, delivering enhanced network experiences to our users in line with their evolving needs.”

Vi 5G Expansion

Vodafone Idea Launches 5G Services in Puducherry

Vodafone Idea Launches 5G Services in Goa

The company’s consolidated EBITDA stood at Rs 32,038 crore with margins improving to 57.8%, while net income before exceptional items came in at Rs 7,245 crore, up from Rs 5,223 crore in the same period last year. Airtel also reported a consolidated customer base of nearly 666 million users across 15 countries.

India continued to remain the primary growth engine for the company Airtel’s India business generated revenues of Rs 39,566 crore during the quarter, rising 7.7% year-on-year the growth was largely led by mobile tariff premiumisation, strong smartphone customer additions, and continued momentum in the connected homes segment.

Airtel’s ARPU Continues to Improve

One of the key highlights of the quarter was Airtel’s steady rise in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), which climbed to Rs 257 from Rs 245 reported a year ago. The operator said the improvement was driven by better customer mix, premium offerings, and rising smartphone penetration across its network.

The company added 20 million smartphone data customers on a year-on-year basis and 5.8 million customers sequentially during the quarter. Smartphone users now contribute nearly 80% of Airtel’s total mobile customer base. Bharti Airtel also added 0.8 million postpaid customers during the quarter, further strengthening its premium subscriber portfolio.

Mobile data consumption continued to rise sharply as well Airtel said average data usage increased by 32.8% year-on-year, reaching 31.4 GB per customer per month. The trend reflects growing demand for video streaming, social media usage, cloud applications, and AI-powered digital services across India.

Homes Business Delivers Another Strong Quarter

Airtel’s Homes business remained one of the fastest-growing segments for the company during Q4 FY26. Revenues from the segment rose 37.3% year-on-year as Airtel continued to aggressively expand its Wi-Fi footprint across multiple regions.

The company added approximately 1.1 million customers in the quarter, taking its total homes customer base to 14.2 million users. Airtel’s IPTV services also continued gaining traction as the operator pushed deeper convergence between broadband and entertainment services.

The rapid growth in the connected homes business comes at a time when telecom operators are increasingly focusing on high-value customers and bundled digital services. Bharti Airtel has been strengthening its fiber and fixed wireless access footprint to compete more aggressively in India’s broadband market.

Airtel Continues Heavy Investments in Network Expansion

Airtel maintained aggressive investments in digital infrastructure during the quarter. Capex stood at Rs 16,066 crore as the company accelerated 5G densification, fiber deployment, connected homes expansion, Airtel Business growth, and data center investments.

During Q4 FY26 alone, Airtel deployed 2,426 towers and 16,746 mobile broadband base stations. Over the full year, the company added 7,883 towers and deployed 43,290 kilometers of fiber infrastructure across its network.

The company also highlighted its efforts to reduce diesel dependence across operations in collaboration with Indus Towers. Airtel said it is increasingly transitioning toward high-powered batteries and alternate energy sources as part of its broader sustainability push.

Airtel Pushes Beyond Telecom

Apart from connectivity, Bharti Airtel continued expanding its digital and enterprise ambitions during the quarter. Airtel Business reported sequential revenue growth of 2.6%, supported by connectivity services and digital portfolio expansion.

The company also announced a collaboration with Google to improve messaging security and reduce spam through Rich Communication Services (RCS) integration combined with Airtel’s network intelligence in another major announcement, Airtel partnered with Zscaler to launch an AI and Cyber Threat Research Center in India aimed at strengthening cyber resilience and supporting trusted AI adoption across sectors.

Also Read: One Airtel Launched by Bharti Airtel as a New Bundled Service

Meanwhile, Airtel’s data center business also received a significant boost after the company announced a US$1 billion investment into Nxtra from investors including Alpha Wave Global, Carlyle, and Anchorage Capital.

Airtel Signals Further Tariff Repair Ahead

Despite reporting strong growth across key business segments, Airtel indicated that further tariff correction in the Indian telecom industry may still be required.

In his statement, Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said the company believes “further tariff repair remains critical” to support long-term investments and sustainable value creation.

The comments come at a time when Indian telecom operators continue investing heavily in 5G rollout, fiber infrastructure, AI systems, and digital services while attempting to improve return on capital.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Adds Over 5 Million Wireless Subscribers in March 2026: TRAI Data

Airtel ended FY26 with strong momentum across mobile, broadband, enterprise, and digital infrastructure businesses with rising ARPU, growing smartphone penetration, strong homes business expansion, and continued infrastructure investments, the company appears focused on strengthening its premium positioning in India’s telecom market while simultaneously expanding its digital ecosystem.

Digital Services Growing Faster on Smaller Base

Responding to investor queries on growth drivers, Thakur said Jio’s digital services business is growing at a faster pace primarily because it is built on a smaller base. He pointed to increasing traction in data centre services such as Meghraj, along with AI cloud offerings, enterprise solutions and newly introduced products. These segments, he said, are scaling rapidly as customer adoption improves.

“The digital services are growing off a smaller base. So, in terms of percentage growth, you will expect to see higher growth there. We are launching more services. We have spoken about our data center offering, Meghraj, where the scale of that customer update has picked up quite a bit. Our AI cloud offering plus some of the new products we have launched, plus our enterprise offering. That is expected to grow faster, just because it is growing off a smaller base, the percentage growth will be faster. Not to say that Jio or the connectivity piece will not grow, that will also continue to grow, but you expect digital services to grow faster,” Thakur said.

He added that while the core connectivity business will continue to grow steadily, digital services are expected to outpace it in percentage terms due to their early-stage scale and expanding use cases.

ARPU Growth Continues Without Tariff Hikes

On revenue trends, Thakur noted that the company expects continued organic growth in average revenue per user (ARPU), driven by rising data consumption, customer upgrades to higher-value plans and adoption of additional services. He said ARPU growth of around 4–5 per cent has been observed in recent quarters even in the absence of tariff increases.

“There is certain organic growth which we will expect both in realizations because people will continue to use more services. People will tend to upgrade in the plans that they use and subscribe to some of the additional services that we are offering. So, you should expect some increase in the ARPU even without any tariff increases and we spoke about this 4 per cent to 5 per cent kind of number that we have been observing over the last few quarters. That kind of growth happens even without any tariff increases,” he added.

Subscriber Growth and Market Share Expansion Outlook

The company also expects continued subscriber additions, supported by what it described as a differentiated service offering and a stronger 5G network experience relative to peers. This, it said, should help Jio further strengthen its position in the Indian telecom market.

“And then of course, the subscriber growth rate will be there. We do expect to continue to gain market share in the market. We have a differentiated, better offering with much better 5G than what the other operators have been able to establish. So, we do expect to gain market share in the market,” Thakur said, responding to a question on subscriber additions at Jio, and how, in the absence of tariff hikes, double-digit growth can continue.