Airtel to connect over 2,100 uncovered villages in North East India

Bharti Airtel, the country's largest telecom service provider, is to set up more than 2,000 mobile towers in unconnected villages across North Eastern States and national highways. The carrier intends to deliver telecom connectivity to citizens in more than 2,100 villages over the next 18 months.

The New Delhi-based company has signed an agreement with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of mobile services. Airtel will receive about Rs1,610 crore from the USOF for executing the project, the company said in a statement.

''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, Chief Operating Operator (India & South Asia) at Bharti Airtel said.

The services would be provided across uncovered villages in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

The deployment will also boost connectivity along important National Highways in the region. The telecom infrastructure set up by Airtel will also enable other telecom service providers to offer services in the region, thereby, providing major fillip to telecom connectivity in the region, which is characterized by tough terrain.

Expanding telecom connectivity will also add to the economic and social development of the region.

Airtel is the largest mobile operator in the North Eastern States and is the only operator to offer 2G, 3G, 4G services in the region. It has made significant investments to expand service availability in the region.