Airtel has announced that they have partnered with the Government of Punjab to sign an agreement at the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit to expand the 4G LTE services to all towns and villages across Punjab. The company will invest Rs. 4000 crores in Punjab over next 5 years.
Airtel launched 4G LTE in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula in Punjab back in March. As part of the new agreement, the Company will lay additional 10,000 km of optic fiber across Punjab and expand its 4G footprint over the next few years.
Airtel will also invest in its existing 2G mobile operations, Wire-line & DSL Broadband, DTH services, M-Commerce Services offering in the state. So far it has invested over Rs. 4800 crores in the state and its mobile network covers all 162 towns and 12,750 villages, reaching 94% of the population.
Regarding the investment, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises said,
Airtel has been at the forefront of Punjab’s telecom growth story and we are delighted to be a partner in Government of Punjab’s vision to build a digitally inclusive State. Just like the mobile phone connected millions across Punjab, this high-speed data connectivity initiative will further empower people with information and services available at the touch of a screen. I am confident that this initiative will make Punjab a model State for rest of the country.