The Chairman of
Bharti Airtel, Sunil Mittal has urged governments, regulators, and mobile
operators to embrace consolidation and collaboration to accelerate the
expansion of digital infrastructure and bridge the digital divide. Speaking
passionately about the need for a unified approach, Mittal stated that the
telecommunications industry must work together to connect the last 400 million
unconnected people worldwide, with satellite technology playing a pivotal role
in filling coverage gaps.
His call to
action comes at a critical time when the industry faces mounting challenges,
including fragmented networks, high infrastructure costs, and low returns on
investment. His message resonated with stakeholders, highlighting the urgent
need for a reset in the telecommunications sector to ensure sustainable growth
and universal connectivity.
Bharti Airtel chairman
stressed that consolidation is essential to create the scale needed for
operators to invest heavily in new infrastructure, including 5G networks and
satellite services. He pointed to India’s telecom sector as a prime example of
how consolidation can drive progress. At its peak, India had 12 operators,
leading to fragmented spectrum, duplicated infrastructure, and a focus on
lucrative urban areas at the expense of rural regions. Today, with just three
major operators, India has achieved near-universal 4G and 5G coverage, even in
the most remote corners of the country.
“How many fibre
highways are enough? How many duplicate towers are enough?” Mittal asked, urging regulators and operators to embrace
collaboration over competition in infrastructure development. “Compete on
the strength of your brands, your services, but don’t try to compete by
building solo capital infrastructure.”
He also highlighted
satellite technology as a game-changer for connecting the last 400 million
people, particularly in remote and underserved areas where traditional
terrestrial networks are economically unviable, and called for partnerships
between mobile operators and satellite providers to deliver seamless
connectivity and bridge the digital divide.
“We have a
mission to finish the job of covering the last 400 million people,” Mittal said. “Satellite service is the solution to filling
coverage gaps. It’s not the time to fight with each other but to work together
to achieve this goal.”
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
