Sunil Mittal

Sunil Mittal

Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises
Birth DetailsOctober 23, 1957 | Ludhiana
NationalityIndian
LeagueEntrepreneur
EducationBachelor’s Degree in Economics & Political Science, Panjab University
Net Worth$10.8 billion (as of August 7, 2020)
Sunil Mittal's Assets
  • Bharti Enterprises
  • Bharti Airtel Ltd
  • Airtel Africa Ltd
  • Airtel Payments Bank Ltd
  • Triton International

Sunil Mittal's Journey so far ...
  • Son of a politician, Sunil Bharti Mittal made his entrepreneurial debut in 1976 with a small bicycle-parts manufacturing unit in Ludhiana
  • Those were the days of ‘license raj’ and getting permits for manufacturing was very difficult. He had moved to Delhi at the time and soon started an import business of procuring portable generators from Japan and selling it in the Indian market
  • By 1982, Mittal had become the largest importer of portable generators in India
  • However, tragedy struck the same year when the government banned its import
  • He now had to pivot to revive his business and saw an opportunity in push-button phones which he had discovered while on a trip to Taiwan
  • Soon Beetel was formed as a part of Bharti Enterprises and he was dealing with telephones, fax machines and other telecom equipment
  • Mittal had established his company as a strong player in the telecom industry by the early 1990s but finally got his big break in 1992 when private companies were invited to bid for providing mobile telephone services
  • He got the licence and Airtel was formed
  • Airtel began providing cellular services in 1995 with Delhi being the first city to receive its services
  • By 2004, Airtel had become India’s largest telecom services provider
  • In 2007, Mittal was honoured with the Padma Bhushan -- India’s third-highest civilian award
  • In 2009, Airtel became the first company in India to cross the 100 million mobile subscribers mark and in 2014, the first to cross the 200 million mark
  • In 2011, the company launched 3G services in India and 4G the following year
  • Today, Airtel has presence in 18 countries and is one of the largest mobile service providers in the world
  • Mittal currently owns 27% of Bharti Airtel and is one of the richest individuals in India. Apart from telecom, the group has interests across DTH, banking, insurance, online payments, broadband, real estate among others

Before you go ...
  • Sunil Mittal is a firm advocate of quality education, and through the Bharti Foundation has established around 200 Satya Bharti Schools and supports more than 800 government schools to help over 2,75,000 underprivileged children in rural India
  • Throughout his career, he has served on various business advisory boards including the Prime Minister of India’s Council on Trade & Industry, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and many more
Last Updated: 12/02/2021

Sunil Mittal News

  • Bharti Telecom chairman Sunil Mittal plans to increase his family's stake in Bharti Airtel. The company will also boost its ownership in its African subsidiary. This move aims to consolidate control and prepare for future leadership transitions. Mittal envisions a significant customer base across India and Africa. The company may also consider global asset acquisitions.
  • Airtel founder Sunil Bharti Mittal is preparing for a leadership change over the next ten years. His three children, Kavin, Shravin, and Eiesha, have established their own professional paths. Kavin is a tech entrepreneur, Shravin is an investor and dealmaker, and Eiesha focuses on lifestyle ventures. This signals a new chapter for the Bharti group.
  • Telecom leader Sunil Bharti Mittal intends to pass on Bharti Airtel's leadership to his children in the next ten years. He also aims for promoter firm Bharti Telecom to reclaim over 50 percent ownership. This transition will depend on Airtel's performance and cash generation. Mittal also plans to increase Airtel's stake in Airtel Africa.
  • Airtel Money, Airtel Africa's mobile money arm, is planning a significant initial public offering. The listing could raise between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. London is emerging as the preferred location for this major financial event. This move aims to value Airtel Money at up to $10 billion, positioning it as a substantial player in European stock markets.
  • Bharti Airtel is injecting one billion dollars into its data centre business, Nxtra Data Limited. Alpha Wave Global, Carlyle Group, and Anchorage Capital are contributing significant funds. Airtel will retain control of Nxtra. This strategic move aims to bolster Nxtra's capabilities. The deal awaits Indian regulatory approval.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as Airtel Africa Board Chair in July 2026. Gopal Vittal will take over as Non-Executive Chair. Shravin Bharti Mittal will become Deputy Chair. Annika Poutiainen also retires. Mittal expressed confidence in the company's strategy and leadership. Vittal's appointment follows nomination by the controlling shareholder. He is a seasoned telecoms leader.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal is preparing for the next generation of his family to take a larger role in Bharti Telecom. His children are gaining experience in independent ventures. Mittal anticipates their increased visibility at shareholder forums in the coming years. He also aims to increase Bharti Telecom's stake in Airtel.
  • Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal announced the telecom giant will dedicate its network and data analysts to a new cybersecurity research center. Partnering with Zscaler, the initiative will use AI and telemetry data to protect India's critical infrastructure from cyber threats, aiming to become the nation's primary cyberspace protection agency.
  • India has solidified its standing in the global AI arena. The nation hosted the inaugural AI summit for the global south. Bharti Enterprises, through its telecom arm Airtel, is spearheading sovereign cloud development. The company is significantly expanding its data centre capacity. This strategic move aims to double its market share in the coming years.
  • Mittal, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, said that AI is becoming an integral part of the company's operations
  • India's home appliance market is set for a shake-up as Reliance and Bharti Enterprises enter, challenging Korean giants LG and Samsung. Bharti's partnership with Haier, following Reliance's aggressive moves, signals heightened competition and a potential reshaping of production, pricing, and distribution. This shift promises consumers more choice and better value.
  • Indian corporate leaders at the ET CEO Roundtable highlighted India's stability as a significant opportunity amidst global turmoil. They urged entrepreneurs to invest boldly, even at the cost of short-term profits, to capitalize on the nation's growth potential and innovation. Participants emphasized the need for administrative and judicial reforms to fully unlock this promising future.
  • Sunil Mittal-led Indian Continent Investment plans to sell approximately 0.56% of its Bharti Airtel stake, valued at around ₹7,200 crore, via a block deal. The entity will offload 3.43 crore shares, potentially at a 3% discount to Tuesday's closing price. This move follows a similar stake sale in August.
  • Jio Platforms reported a 12.8% year-on-year net profit increase for the September quarter, reaching Rs 7,379 crore, driven by robust subscriber additions and higher-paying data users. The company's average revenue per user (ARPU) for its telecom business rose to Rs 211.4, with 5G subscribers now comprising 50% of its total wireless traffic.
  • Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Telecom is reportedly considering a substantial 150 billion rupee ($1.7 billion) bond offering as early as next week. The proceeds are primarily earmarked for refinancing upcoming debt maturities, including 97.5 billion rupees due in November and December. This potential issuance would be the company's largest-ever rupee bond sale, supporting its unit Bharti Airtel's ongoing expansion.
  • BT Group announced the appointment of Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, to its board as non-independent non-executive directors, effective September 15, 2025. This follows Bharti's acquisition of a 24.5% stake in BT Group.
  • Airtel Africa is gearing up to list its mobile money business, Airtel Money, in the first half of 2026, potentially valuing it at over $4 billion. The company has appointed Citigroup as an advisor for the IPO, aiming to capitalize on growing investor interest in African fintech.
  • Indian Continent Investment, led by Sunil Mittal, plans to sell approximately 0.8% of its stake in Bharti Airtel for over ₹9,300 crore through a block deal. The sale involves five crore shares at a floor price of ₹1,862 per share, a 3% discount. This follows a similar stake sale in February, with Bharti Airtel's shares showing significant gains this year.
  • Bharti Airtel is gearing up for its next growth phase, fueled by strong financials, exploring IPOs for Airtel Payments Bank and Nxtra, and an InViT for its fibre assets. The company reported impressive Q1 results, with rising profits and reduced debt.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal hailed the India-UK FTA as a historic milestone, emphasizing the strong complementarity between the two nations. As Co-Chair of the India-UK CEO Forum, he expressed confidence in doubling bilateral trade, citing opportunities for SMEs and a boost for Indian tech companies through social security contribution exemptions.
  • Airtel Africa's net profit surged five-fold to $156 million in Q1, fueled by operational momentum and currency gains. Revenue climbed 24.9% to $1.41 billion, driven by tariff adjustments and strong performance in Francophone Africa.
  • Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal has said that India is likely to maintain steady economic growth despite rising global trade tensions and ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Writing in the company’s annual report, Mittal noted that political stability and strong policy actions in infrastructure, logistics, and supply chains are boosting investor confidence and supporting India’s aim to become a global manufacturing hub.
  • Sunil Mittal, the chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath. The recognition is for his contributions to global business and philanthropy. This is Mittal's ninth honorary doctorate and third from a UK institution. He highlighted the importance of education and India-UK collaboration.
  • India's top billionaires, including the Ambanis, Adanis, and Shiv Nadar, collectively amassed over ₹40,000 crore in dividends in FY25, showcasing India Inc's strong cash generation. Shiv Nadar led the pack with ₹9,902 crore, followed by Anil Agarwal's Vedanta at ₹9,591 crore. The surge in dividend income spanned across various sectors, highlighting generous payout policies.
  • Airtel is proactively seeking collaboration with banks, RBI, and NPCI to combat rising digital fraud. They've proposed a unified front, including a shared repository of fraudulent financial domains for proactive blocking of malicious sites. Airtel also advocates for regulatory oversight of OTT platforms and joint public awareness campaigns.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal says AI's impact will surpass the internet. He spoke at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025. Mittal highlighted AI's effect on India's job market. He noted potential difficulties in software engineering. Mittal also emphasized new opportunities AI will create. He urged government support for industry. Mittal called for increased R&D investment and a trade reset.
  • Bharti Group Chairman Sunil Mittal strongly advocates for 'One Nation, One Election' at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, highlighting the economic disruptions caused by frequent elections. He urges CII to engage with political parties to showcase the economic advantages of synchronized elections. Mittal also emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrency and AI advancements.
  • Airtel is urging Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea to join forces in a collaborative effort against rising telecom fraud. Citing over 1.7 million cybercrime complaints and significant financial losses this year, Airtel proposes a joint initiative to detect, prevent, and mitigate scams through real-time intelligence sharing and cross-network coordination, planned for May 14, 2025.
  • Singtel divested a 1.2% stake in Bharti Airtel for approximately ₹13,180 crore through a private placement, yielding a gain of ₹9,224 crore. The sale, part of Singtel's capital management, saw strong interest from global and Indian institutional investors. Following the transaction, Singtel's effective holding in Airtel will decrease to 28.3%.
  • Sunil Mittal is planning to acquire a significant stake in Haier India. He is partnering with Warburg Pincus for this deal. The potential acquisition could be around $2 billion. Haier is considering selling a stake in its Indian unit. Other investors like Temasek and GIC have shown interest previously. Haier's revenue in South Asia has experienced substantial growth.
  • Universal Studios is reportedly in discussions with Bharti Real Estate to establish its first Indian theme park within Bharti's upcoming 3-million-sq-ft mall near Delhi airport. The mall, slated for completion by mid-2027, will allocate 300,000 sq ft for the indoor amusement park.
  • Airtel's express SIM card delivery service with Blinkit has been paused following government concerns over security protocols. The Department of Telecommunications requires Aadhaar-based KYC authentication to be completed before SIM card delivery, aligning with existing regulations. Airtel is now adjusting its service to comply and aims to restore the express delivery option soon.
  • Reliance Industries has emerged as a strong contender for a significant stake in Haier India, potentially competing with a consortium led by Sunil Mittal. Haier aims to localize its operations by diluting 25% to 51% equity, seeking a valuation of $2-2.3 billion.
  • The World Bank is advancing its 'Private Sector Investment Lab' initiative by incorporating industry leaders like Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises. This next phase emphasises implementing proven solutions to generate jobs in developing economies. The Lab's focus areas include regulatory certainty, political risk insurance, and foreign exchange risk.
  • Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel, has been elected as the new chairman of the GSMA board, overseeing the strategic direction until the end of 2026. This appointment signifies Airtel's growing influence in the global telecom industry, with Vittal succeeding Sunil Mittal as the second Indian in this role.
  • Starlink may face a spectrum usage charge (SUC) in India, potentially increasing costs for the company. This tax, along with the existing 8% licence fee, could be around 3% of adjusted gross revenue. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is finalizing the specifics of satellite spectrum pricing, tenure, and taxation, with recommendations expected soon.
  • Sajjan Jindal and Sunil Mittal raise concerns over Tesla and Starlink's impact on Indian industries. While Jindal doubts Tesla's competition with local automakers, Mittal urges collaboration in telecom to enhance rural coverage, noting potential advantages of satellite services and the implications of partnerships with Musk's ventures.
  • Indus Towers shares dropped 8% amid investor concerns over telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Jio partnering with SpaceX’s Starlink for satellite internet services, potentially disrupting the tower infrastructure business and intensifying competition in India's emerging satellite communications market.
  • Sunil Mittal announced that satellite technology will soon join 4G, 5G, and 6G, enabling mobile connectivity in remote areas, including skies and oceans. Indian telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Jio have partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to offer high-speed internet in India. Mittal urged collaboration between telecom and satellite firms to connect underserved regions.
  • Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal urged governments and regulators to incentivize telecoms to expand coverage in rural areas by partnering with satellite players. Speaking at Mobile World Congress 2025, he emphasized the need for collaboration and criticized the competition focus. Mittal also called for lower taxes and affordable spectrum allocation to support digital infrastructure development.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been awarded the Honorary Knighthood (KBE) by King Charles III for his exceptional contributions to UK-India business relations. The award ceremony, held in New Delhi, highlighted Mittal’s significant impact on fostering economic ties between the two countries.
  • Bharti Airtel plans to acquire an additional 5% stake in its Africa unit, Airtel Africa plc, by FY25 via cash deals, boosting its current 57.29% stake. This move, expected to be concluded by March 2025, underscores Airtel Africa's strong growth, driven by its mobile money business and recovery in Nigeria, despite past challenges.
  • Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Group, advocates for shared satellite spectrum in rural areas but calls for non-discriminatory policies in urban regions. He emphasizes the importance of satellite connectivity for underserved regions and envisions a telecom sector with 3-4 players, promoting leadership through empowerment and persistence despite challenges.
  • Indian Continent Investment Ltd sold a 0.84% stake in Bharti Airtel through a market transaction, raising Rs 8,485.11 crore. Bharti Telecom Ltd acquired a significant portion of these shares, boosting its holding to 40.47%. The deal attracted global and domestic investors like GQG Partners, Fidelity, and ICICI Pru.
  • Bharti Airtel is narrowing the revenue market share gap with Reliance Jio in Indian telecom, driven by strong mobile broadband user additions. In 2024, Airtel's share rose to 38.6%, while Jio's increased to 41.6%. Analysts expect Jio to gain some share in 2025 with lower tariffs and a 5G ramp-up.
  • Sunil Mittal and Narayana Murthy lauded the contributions of the late former PM Manmohan Singh, praising his liberalisation reforms in the early 90s that spurred India's economic growth. They highlighted his role in enabling entrepreneurship and economic expansion, acknowledging his influence on the country's prosperity.
  • In October 2024, Reliance Jio gained more active users than Airtel, but Airtel led in attracting high-paying 4G/5G users. Vodafone Idea continued to struggle, losing both active and 4G users. Jio's overall subscriber base shrunk as inactive users were removed, while Airtel's grew. Jio also extended its lead in the landline market.
  • Bharti Airtel prepaid ₹3,626 crore to the Department of Telecommunications, clearing its 2016 spectrum auction dues. This move saves on interest costs and boosts cash flow for 5G expansion and rural 4G coverage. Airtel has prepaid a total of ₹28,320 crore in spectrum dues in 2024, primarily from its own cash flows.
  • State-run Telecommunications Consultants India (TCIL) is planning to divest 5-10% of its remaining stake in Bharti Hexacom through an offer-for-sale. The divestment process, targeting both institutional and public shareholders, is expected to conclude in FY25. At Bharti Hexacom's current market capitalisation, TCIL's 15% stake is valued at ₹10,425 crore.
  • Bharti Global, the international arm of Bharti Enterprises, has acquired a 24.5% stake in BT Group for $4 billion, making it the largest shareholder in the UK telecom company. This marks Bharti’s second major international investment after Africa. The move strengthens Bharti's global telecom presence, with both companies optimistic about future growth and long-term value.
  • Singtel at present directly owns 9.5% in Bharti Airtel through its affiliate, Pastel Ltd, while the Sunil Mittal-led promoter family holds a 3.31% direct stake through Indian Continent Investment Ltd (ICIL), a promoter group entity. Industry executives said the exercise is part of Singtel’s plans to boost shareholder returns and increase returns on invested capital.
  • At a TRAI open house discussion, Elon Musk-backed Starlink defended its pricing strategy against accusations of predatory pricing from Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Starlink argued that its pricing is transparent and benefits consumers, while Jio and Airtel advocated for a level playing field through spectrum auctions.
  • Bharti Telecom Ltd (BTL), the primary promoter of Bharti Airtel, has upped its stake in the telecom giant to 40.33%. This increase resulted from a 1.2% share acquisition from another Airtel promoter group, Indian Continent Investment Ltd (ICIL), in an off-market transaction valued at approximately Rs 10,924 crore. This deal further solidifies BTL's position as the largest shareholder in Airtel.
  • Bharti Airtel plans to fully switch its 5G services to standalone mode within 3-4 years as demand increases and more 4G users upgrade. Initially, Airtel will use the SA mode for fixed wireless access and enterprise services while consumer services will stay in non-standalone mode. Mid-band 4G spectrum is being refarmed for 5G coverage.
  • Bharti Airtel, India’s second largest telco, did not see much of a negative impact from the tariff hike it took in July in terms of users downgrading to lower plans or in SIM consolidation, managing director Gopal Vittal said in an earnings call Tuesday.
  • Bharti Airtel’s consolidated net profit for the fiscal second quarter jumped 168% on-year on the back of strong average revenue per user (ARPU) growth and subscriber adds, although a Rs 318 crore exceptional loss caused it to miss estimates.
  • Bharti Airtel has announced that Shashwat Sharma, the current COO, will become the MD & CEO starting January 1, 2026, as part of the company's planned succession. Gopal Vittal, the current MD & CEO, will be elevated to Vice Chairman and join the Board of Airtel Africa Plc, focusing on group synergies and strategic leadership.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, shared an alarming incident of an attempted AI-powered scam involving his cloned voice during the NDTV World Summit. Scammers targeted one of his executives in Dubai, attempting to manipulate them into transferring funds using a highly convincing voice clone. Fortunately, the executive realized it was a scam and prevented the fraud. Mittal expressed his concern over the misuse of AI for criminal activities while acknowledging its vast potential to benefit industries and economies globally.
  • Bharti Chairman Sunil Mittal described satellite communications as crucial for connecting remote areas unserved by traditional networks. Addressing the NDTV World Summit, he noted that about 2 billion globally remain offline. Mittal emphasized the potential in India, where 5% of the population lacks connectivity. He highlighted that two ground stations are prepared, pending government approval.
  • Jeff Bezos-owned Kuiper is cautioning that pricey airwaves will force global satellite internet operators to target consumers in the South Asian nation’s urban areas, instead of the original aim of giving connectivity to remote regions. Starlink reiterated its stance that spectrum for satellite services was a shared resource and cannot be auctioned, countering the demand from India’s largest telco Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
  • India will allocate satellite broadband spectrum, favoring Elon Musk’s Starlink over an auction system advocated by Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal. The government aims to attract foreign investment while balancing local telecom interests. Incumbent operators argue it creates an uneven playing field. Starlink awaits government approval to start operations in India.
  • Elon Musk’s Starlink aims to serve India after the government decided to allocate satellite spectrum administratively. This follows criticism from Musk against auctioning satellite spectrum. Indian communications minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, confirmed the allocation would be at a cost set by the telecom regulator. Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal's companies are also involved.
  • Elon Musk calls India's move to auction satellite broadband spectrum 'unprecedented,' countering Mukesh Ambani's lobbying for auctions to ensure a level playing field. Starlink and peers favor administrative allocation aligning with global trends, while Reliance pushes for auctions, arguing for industry consultation on methodology.
  • Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal emphasized that satellite services will extend internet reach to remote areas of India. He highlighted the need for satellite services to coexist with terrestrial networks and advocated for equal licensing conditions for satellite companies planning to serve urban areas, amid ongoing debates over spectrum allocation.
  • The latest Hurun India Rich List reveals that individuals born under the Cancer sign saw the highest increase in cumulative wealth at 84%, followed by Gemini at 77% and Leo at 68%. The list also notes significant wealth growth for Sagittarius, Libra, Capricorn, and Pisces, while Aries, Scorpio, and Taurus showed more modest gains.
  • Bharti Airtel will soon hold a 50.005% stake in Indus Towers, thereby making the telecom tower company its subsidiary. The decision, approved by the board on August 27, entails a buyback of 56.7 million equity shares priced at Rs 10 each. Shares of Indus had closed 1% higher at Rs 437.40 on BSE on Tuesday. Airtel shares, in turn, had also close marginally (0.58%) higher at Rs 1522.50 on the exchange.
  • Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises praised British Telecom’s prospects following his group’s significant investment in BT Group from Altice UK. Recognizing BT’s existing infrastructure and slow broadband development, Mittal saw potential for substantial returns amid Britain’s urgent need for better connectivity. Drawing from Bharti’s telecom success in India, Mittal believed their experience could help navigate UK’s planning challenges and improve 5G and broadband connectivity. The investment aligns with Keir Starmer’s vision of boosting Britain's infrastructure, with hope that swift and predictable enhancements could follow.
  • Bharti is buying the stake from BT’s largest shareholder, Altice UK. The BT stock has surged more than 10% this week to a market capitalisation of $18.55 billion following the stake purchase announcement. Depending on the valuation for the acquisition, the group will look to put in a mix of cash and debt for the rest of the deal, which could take some time, said the people cited, adding that a final decision on the additional debt amount will be taken then.
  • After years of strategic missteps, operational challenges and a languishing stock, Sunil Mittal will have to add a lot more of his entrepreneurial chutzpah than his $4 bn cheque to ring in a turnaround.
  • The purchase will be made by Bharti Global, which is the international arm of Bharti Enterprises, through Bharti Televentures. As per the terms of the deal, Bharti Televentures has acquired a 9.99% stake in BT Group's issued capital via open market trade. It will buy the remaining 14.51% after getting regulatory clearances. Mittal expects the deal to close in the coming months.
  • India is second-largest FDI source for UK; 954 Indian cos generate $65 billion in annual revenues. Conquering the complexities of the Indian market may have been challenging for UK businesses but for their Indian counterparts, the UK has always been a strategic outpost.
  • Bharti Enterprises has acquired a 24.5% stake in British Telecom as highlighted by Shravin Mittal, Managing Director of Bharti Global. Mittal expressed confidence in BT's new management and strategic execution plan. Bharti Global, which has invested heavily in various sectors, views this as a long-term investment aligned with their strategy.
  • Bharti Chairman Sunil Mittal announced that OneWeb satellite service is ready and awaiting government approval to launch. The company has two satellite network portals (SNPs) ready and has conducted tests in the Himalayas and deserts to demonstrate concept to government agencies. The company has requested the government to accelerate the process, as it is needed for remote areas.
  • Bharti Global's investment in BT signified a major step for the Indian telecom sector. Sunil Mittal extended his reach into European satellite communications after gaining a strong foothold in Africa. This strategic move aims to benefit from stable policies and rising data consumption, focusing on enterprise and personal data services.
  • Bharti Airtel, India's second-ranked telco, will focus on building in India for the next two-three years, according to Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal. The company plans to roll out 5G, fill 4G gaps, lay more fibre, roll out fixed wireless access, enterprise businesses, and more data centers. Mittal believes that Airtel's profile looks strong and that there could be opportunities globally for the company.
  • Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal has deemed acquiring a 24.5% stake in BT Group as a "good, long-term investment" and an "attractive buy", citing the company's strong portfolio of home broadband, fibre, mobile and enterprise offerings. Mittal expressed confidence in BT's investment and business prospects and said that while the priority is to understand the company and the UK market in-depth, he would be open to more opportunities in Europe in the future.
  • Bharti Global has acquired a 24.5 per cent stake in British telecom company BT Group from Altice UK. The investment is a "great vote of confidence" for Bharti Enterprises, as it represents a significant milestone in the company's future and strategy. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, welcomed the deal as a sign of the strength of the India-UK technology partnership.
  • Bharti Airtel reported a significant increase in its consolidated net profit for Q1 FY25, rising more than 150% year-over-year and doubling sequentially, driven by exceptional gains, improved average revenue per user (ARPU), and reduced finance costs. The telecom giant posted a net profit of ₹4,159.9 crore, exceeding analyst estimates.
  • Bharti Airtel decided to defer further calls on its nearly Rs 15,000 crore remaining rights issue proceeds. The telecom giant cited enough cash for immediate needs and a healthy balance sheet. The company raised Rs 5,247 crore in the initial tranche and will call for the remaining funds as necessary, notifying shareholders in advance.
  • Bharti Airtel’s consolidated net profit rose 100.81% sequentially and 158% on-year to Rs 4159.9 crore, helped by a one-time gain in addition to strong broadband user additions and an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU).
  • Airtel ceo salary: After his hike, Sunil Mittal took home Rs 32.27 crore in FY 24.
  • For the last three years since FY21, Mittal was receiving a reduced remuneration of Rs 15 crore as the company was battling challenges on multiple fronts - industry turbulence, large regulatory hits and a black swan event in the form of a pandemic.
  • India's ambition to be a USD 35 trillion economy by 2047 offers immense growth opportunities for Airtel, said Chairman Sunil Mittal. He highlighted 5G's critical role in India's digital growth and Airtel's commitment to lead this transformation. Mittal praised India's digitisation efforts, which contribute significantly to GDP and emphasized sustained investments in critical sectors.
  • Bharti Airtel and the CBDT have finalized a multi-year agreement where Airtel will serve as the network and connectivity partner for the income tax department. This partnership includes dual connectivity using Software Defined Networks for WAN, Secure LAN, and other technology solutions under the Taxnet-2.0 program. The initiative aims to modernize tax collection, processing, monitoring, and accounting systems. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. CBDT officially awarded the contract to Airtel, with both parties formalizing their acceptance at a recent signing event attended by Sunil Mittal and CBDT chairman Ravi Agarwal.
  • Pawan Parakh highlights pharma's revenue growth from pipelines, multi-year potential in defence, and telecom gains from tariff hikes and 5G shifts. Airtel's Rs 300 ARPU target is crucial. Renewables and automation see margin improvement via operating leverage. Defence export commitments to Southeast Asia highlight India's atmanirbhar focus, with Sunil Mittal underscoring enterprise telecom.
  • Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced plans to address telecom sector challenges after meetings with industry leaders. Discussions included requests like customs duty waivers on network equipment and reducing license fees. The government will formulate action plans with clear timelines based on committee inputs. Telecom giants like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio seek tax sops and suspension of AGR contributions. Scindia aims to propel India towards becoming a telecom superpower through collaborative efforts with stakeholders.
  • Unverified reports had suggested details of as many as 375 million Airtel subscribers, including their phone numbers, email addresses and Aadhaar numbers were allegedly available for sale on the dark web.
  • Sri Lanka’s leading telecom company, Dialog Axiata, has acquired 100% of Bharti Airtel’s subsidiary, Airtel Lanka, following the completion of an all-stock deal. Bharti Airtel now holds a 10.355% share in Dialog Axiata as a result of the share swap transaction.
  • Bharti Airtel acquires 1% stake in Indus Towers, increasing ownership to 48.95%. Airtel aims to strengthen Indus amidst Vodafone Idea's financial challenges.
  • Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal emphasized that Vodafone Idea must settle all past dues with Indus Towers to access new services like 5G. However, Mittal mentioned that the Indus board will remain flexible with its decisions even if Vi makes a significant payment and provides a schedule for the remaining amount. Airtel is a major stakeholder in Indus Towers.
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, emphasized that Airtel's resurgence post the challenges posed by Reliance Jio's entry and the AGR ruling showcased India's stable economy and supportive policies under strong leadership. Reflecting on Airtel's path to the $100-billion milestone, Mittal highlighted the company's resilience amidst industry disruptions. He noted that Airtel's achievement as the first-generation Indian company to reach this milestone was significant, especially considering the competitive landscape.
  • Bharti Airtel is expected to increase its sub-GHz airwave holdings in the 900 MHz band across multiple circles in the upcoming spectrum auction, potentially becoming the top buyer despite Reliance Jio submitting the highest earnest money deposit (EMD). Airtel aims to bolster its rural mobile broadband coverage by enhancing its low-band airwaves arsenal. While Jio leads in sub-GHz spectrum holdings, Airtel's recent focus on rural expansion and improved financial position suggests significant investments in 900 MHz spectrum across 12 circles.
  • Airtel is the biggest shareholder in Indus, with 47.95%; Vodafone Group has 21.05% and 30.97% is with the public, according to the tower company's latest filing with the BSE. A buyout of the Vodafone stake will boost Airtel's shareholding to 69%. Indus shares ended 2.9% higher at ₹359.65 on the BSE on Tuesday, giving it ₹96,923.41 crore market capitalisation.
  • A market with three private telecom companies is optimal for India, Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal said on Thursday as debt-laden Vodafone Idea (Vi) got a financial lifeline allaying fears of a duopoly in the telecom sector. "My position has been consistent that three private operators are ideal for India," Mittal told ET. His comments come in the backdrop of Vi moving to secure its much-delayed funding.
  • Bharti Hexacom IPO on April 3, TCIL divests 15%. Bharti Airtel keeps 70%. ₹5,000 crore revenue expected. BofA's view on wireless services potential in Hexacom circles.
  • Bharti Airtel's managing director, Gopal Vittal, has called on the company's 19,000 employees across India to cancel business meetings on Tuesday and spend the entire day with customers to address service challenges they face. This is part of a national brand-building drive to position Airtel as a customer-obsessed telco, seeking direct market feedback on its 2G, 4G, and 5G mobile operations and home broadband services.
  • The British TV serials Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister were a hit in India. Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises received an honorary knighthood, raising questions about Indian citizens accepting British titles post-independence. The British Empire used titles to reward and bind Indian rulers.
  • Nitin Soni of Fitch Ratings expects a tariff hike for Indian telcos due to low return on investment and ARPU. Competition is likely to remain subdued, allowing Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to increase ARPU. Investment in a larger fibre network is needed for future 6G readiness and data offloading.
  • Mittal was awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE). The KBE is among the highest honours conferred by the British Sovereign to civilians. It is awarded in an honorary capacity to foreign nationals.
  • Sunil Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been awarded Honorary Knighthood, becoming the first Indian citizen to receive this honor. King Charles III conferred Mittal with the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his contributions to advancing India-UK business relations.
  • Load more news

Panache People 101

Trending In Profiles

Mukesh AmbaniRatan TataAnand MahindraSundar PichaiGautam AdaniElon MuskAnil AmbaniYogi AdityanathRakesh JhunjhunwalaRadhakishan DamaniNarendra ModiByju RaveendranNitin GadkariSmriti IraniKiran Mazumdar ShawJeff BezosNandan NilekaniJack DorseyWarren BuffettBill Gates

Latest Panache News

Career tips from a former recruiter: 8 things employers quietly notice on resumes that job seekers never hear aboutCareer tips from a former recruiter: 8 things employers quietly notice on resumes that job seekers never hear about
Kindness act of the day from USA: He spent decades serving others but was left struggling with pain in old age. Then strangers changed his lifeKindness act of the day from USA: He spent decades serving others but was left struggling with pain in old age. Then strangers changed his life
Thinking of prepaying your home loan? CA says you might be doing it wrongThinking of prepaying your home loan? CA says you might be doing it wrong
From James to The God of the Woods: 6 Barack Obama-recommended books worth adding to your reading listFrom James to The God of the Woods: 6 Barack Obama-recommended books worth adding to your reading list
Quote of the day by Oscar Wilde: 'The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties...' A century-old lesson on trust, compromise, and acceptance in relationships by the Irish literary legendQuote of the day by Oscar Wilde: 'The one charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties...' A century-old lesson on trust, compromise, and acceptance in relationships by the Irish literary legend
Quote of the day by Nicholas Sparks: ‘You are so caught up in being alone, you are afraid of what might happen if you actually find someone…’ what The Walk to Remember author's lines teach us about love, grief and emotional vulnerabilityQuote of the day by Nicholas Sparks: ‘You are so caught up in being alone, you are afraid of what might happen if you actually find someone…’ what The Walk to Remember author's lines teach us about love, grief and emotional vulnerability
Norwegian proverb of the day: ‘Bad is called good when worse happens…’ what this teach about facing hardshipsNorwegian proverb of the day: ‘Bad is called good when worse happens…’ what this teach about facing hardships
French proverb of the day: 'At the end of the chess game, both the king and the pawn go back into the exact same box...' A timeless lesson on why power and wealth does not define a personFrench proverb of the day: 'At the end of the chess game, both the king and the pawn go back into the exact same box...' A timeless lesson on why power and wealth does not define a person
Quote of the day by Angelina Jolie: 'You really try to hide from your children how much pain and sadness you carry,' what the Mr. & Mrs. Smith actress’s line reveals about parenting and emotional strengthQuote of the day by Angelina Jolie: 'You really try to hide from your children how much pain and sadness you carry,' what the Mr. & Mrs. Smith actress’s line reveals about parenting and emotional strength
Ramani Kalyanam OTT release date confirmed: When and where to watch the Telugu romantic drama onlineRamani Kalyanam OTT release date confirmed: When and where to watch the Telugu romantic drama online
No chemicals, no sprays. 6 lizard-repellent houseplants you need in your home nowNo chemicals, no sprays. 6 lizard-repellent houseplants you need in your home now
Latest Panache News
DisclaimerThe content of this page has been aggregated from multiple websites. Some information can change over the passage of time.
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Panache People 101 › Sunil Mittal
Open in App

Popular Categories

Hot on Web

In Case you missed it

Top Searched Companies

Download ET APP


Follow us on


Powered by

become a member

Terms of Use & Grievance Redressal Policy
DNPA Code of Ethics|Privacy Policy|Archive|Delete Data|Feedback|

Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights:
Times Syndication Service

Do Not Sell My Personal Information