Bharti Airtel’s Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, has called for an industry-wide tariff hike, citing that the returns on capital employed (ROCE) within India’s telecom sector remain at a low 11 percent. Vittal’s statement aligns with his emphasis on ensuring sustained investment in India’s telecom landscape. He noted that despite Airtel’s strong cash generation and continued debt reduction, the industry requires “further tariff repair” to maintain and expand network infrastructure.
Airtel’s Tariff Hikes in Perspective
In the last three years, Indian telecom companies have raised tariffs twice, collectively increasing rates by around 40 percent. As recently as July 2024, major telecom operators, including Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea, announced additional hikes of up to 26 percent. Vittal believes that these adjustments are necessary steps to keep up with the rising costs of network expansion and technology investments.
AI-Powered Spam Detection to Enhance Customer Experience
Airtel has introduced a free, AI-powered spam detection feature for its customers, aiming to tackle the widespread issue of spam calls and messages. Vittal explained that the solution, designed to enhance customer satisfaction, is automatically enabled for all Airtel users, eliminating the need for additional apps or service requests. This move reflects Airtel’s ongoing investment in creating a future-ready digital network that emphasizes customer-centric solutions.
Vittal’s Transition to Vice Chairman Role and Future Vision
In another significant development, Vittal will transition to the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd on January 1, 2026. Additionally, he will serve as the Bharti nominee director on the Board of Airtel Africa Plc, where he’ll provide strategic insights to guide Airtel’s growth across markets. Reflecting on Airtel’s journey, Vittal stated, “Empowerment has been an article of faith with me,” noting that Airtel’s unique approach combines professionalism with entrepreneurial vision to deliver exceptional technology and services to millions of users.
Through these strategic moves and technological advancements, Airtel continues to position itself as a leader in innovation, customer service, and industry development, maintaining a clear focus on delivering high-quality telecom services across India and beyond.
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