Airtel to provide mobile services in 2,100 uncovered villages in North East

Airtel says it will set up telecom infrastructure in deep rural pockets and provide mobile services across uncovered villages in North East.

Airtel to connect 2,100 uncovered villages in the northeastern states. (REUTERS)

Bharti Airtel on Monday announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to provide mobile services in 2,100 uncovered villages and national highways in the northeastern states over the coming 18 months.

As the largest operator in the northeastern states, Airtel will set up over 2,000 mobile towers and sites in unconnected pockets of the region to deliver telecom connectivity in over 2,100 villages over the next 18 months, it said.

For executing the project, Airtel would receive about ₹1,610 crore from the DoT's Universal Service Obligation Fund to provide telecom services in rural and remote areas, the statement added.

The telecom giant said the infrastructure set up by it will also enable other service providers to offer services in a region characterised by tough terrain, as well as lower population density and connectivity.

"Bharti Airtel has signed an agreement with DoT and the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of mobile services in identified uncovered villages and national highways in the northeastern states of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh," the Airtel statement said.

"Airtel has been leading the expansion of telecom services in North East India and as the largest operator in these markets, we have gained deep understanding of the region. This project will provide a massive boost to telecom connectivity in these areas and truly connect them with the rest of India and the world," Ajai Puri, COO (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel said.