Bharti Telecom chairman Sunil Mittal says the group should regain majority control of Bharti Airtel, after years when foreign and strategic investors diluted its dominance. Speaking to analysts, he backed a ₹28,220 crore share-swap with ICIL, which is expected to lift the Mittal family’s stake while narrowing the gap with Singtel. Bharti Telecom also plans to expand its ownership in Airtel Africa, potentially topping 78% and aiming for up to 90%, supported by buybacks and future consolidation.
Verizon has begun another round of US layoffs, following the elimination of about 13,000 jobs last year. The company confirmed the latest cuts to a news outlet but declined to share the exact headcount affected. It said the impact is under 1% of its total workforce, with the heaviest reported effect at its Basking Ridge, New Jersey headquarters. Verizon executives say the restructuring and “leaner” operations will continue through 2026, even as the company hires for growth roles.
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Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal says he will shift leadership to the next generation within the next decade. He also pointed to the West Asia war’s impact on business operations and admitted dissatisfaction with recent revenue performance. Mittal’s focus is on boosting Average Revenue Per User, alongside his reappointment as Chairman effective from October 2026.
Bharti Airtel reported Q4 FY26 consolidated net profit of Rs 7,325 crore, down 34% year-on-year, even as revenue grew 16% to Rs 55,383 crore. The telecom firm recommended a final dividend of Rs 24 per share and pointed to strong performance across India and Africa, while also investing in digital lending and AI initiatives.
Vodafone Idea’s board will meet on May 16 to discuss a fundraising plan that could bring in fresh capital via equity and warrants. The debt-heavy telecom operator is seeking stronger financial footing to fund network upgrades and stay competitive. The decision could signal a critical next step for its turnaround and ability to meet operational and repayment pressures.
Vodafone Idea’s board is set to weigh a fresh fundraising plan through equity shares and warrants, driven by improving sentiment after AGR dues relief and clearer regulatory signals. The telecom stock has surged on expectations of better liquidity, leadership changes, and stake-related developments. Brokerages are turning more upbeat, pointing to improved visibility for funding and network expansion.
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OpenAI has formed partnerships with major European companies including Deutsche Telekom, BBVA, and Telefonica to give them access to its latest AI models. The goal is to help these firms strengthen their resilience by using advanced AI tools to detect, respond to, and defend against evolving cyber threats.
Truecaller is cutting about 70 jobs, roughly 15% of its workforce, after a weak first quarter that exposed pressure on its core advertising-led model. Net revenue fell 27% year-on-year, while India revenue dropped 41%, dragged by losses in real-money gaming ad spend after regulatory bans, advertising partner algorithm updates, and weaker activity from regional conflicts.
Vodafone Idea shares surged nearly 10% on Monday, hitting an intra-day high of ₹12.36 after rising from Friday’s ₹11.24 close. The move comes amid upbeat sentiment linked to Vodafone Group Plc mulling measures to strengthen the capital base of its India business, sparking investor hopes for additional support.
Vodafone Idea shares jumped more than 8% to a four-month high after reports said Vodafone Group could transfer part of its stake to the Indian telecom operator. Investors are betting the potential move would improve Vodafone Idea’s balance sheet, bolster its fundraising capacity, and help it handle government dues while funding future investments.
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Reliance Jio Platforms, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom giant, is moving toward seeking approvals for a Mumbai IPO that could become India’s largest ever. Reuters reports the deal could raise as much as $4 billion, but the launch has been delayed amid softer IPO sentiment following tensions in West Asia, adding uncertainty to the timetable.
Indian markets ended higher despite choppy trade as investors monitored the US Iran deal. Canara Bank and MCX drew attention with strong Q4 results, including a sharp jump in MCX profits. Ola Electric cleared the path for a new scooter, while Vodafone Idea weighed options for capital infusion—signals that could reshape sector momentum.
Vodafone Group Plc is reportedly considering transferring part of its stake in Vodafone Idea Ltd to the Indian company. The capital move is meant to strengthen Vodafone Idea’s finances and support its push for large loans to clear government dues and fund growth. The proposal signals Vodafone’s effort to shore up its Indian unit amid debt pressure.
TRAI is set to tighten how telecom firms manage customer complaints. Service providers would be required to offer easy complaint registration across portals, apps, and even chatbots, plus provide regular updates on what actions they’ve taken. Under the proposal, telcos could face penalties up to Rs 50 lakh per quarter for improperly dismissing complaints.
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Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held an unscheduled meeting with telecom firms and academia to gauge the risk posed by AI-enabled cyber threats. The discussion focused on how severe the challenge could be and whether telecom operators have sufficient cyber preparedness to respond. Officials say the goal was to understand gaps before threats escalate.
T Mobile says AI is handling about half of its customer calls, marking a rapid shift in customer support. When the company rolled out its AI chatbot, it briefly disabled screenshots—reportedly to prevent users from sharing negative reactions on social media. The telecom says more automation is coming as adoption and call deflection grow.
Kumar Mangalam Birla has resumed his role as non-executive chairman of Vodafone Idea as the telecom firm attempts a turnaround. With government relief and planned $5 billion capex, Vi is looking to secure debt funding and target sharp growth in revenues and EBITDA, positioning itself for India’s digital future.
India approved $33 billion in support for BSNL, yet the telecom turnaround still lacks a full-time leadership mandate. The Ken points to the mismatch between immediate funding and governance, raising questions about accountability, decision speed, and whether reforms can actually accelerate without stable top-level direction. The result is a hesitant restart rather than a decisive restructuring.
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Reliance Industries is preparing a multi-billion dollar investment in low Earth orbit satellites, pushing into satellite communications with a bid to rival Starlink and Amazon LEO. The company has six teams working across the project, signaling a fast-moving push toward a domestic satcom presence as India seeks homegrown connectivity infrastructure.
Bharti Airtel is exploring 5G network slicing, a setup that creates virtual networks tailored to specific needs. The telecom operator wants to monetize its 5G infrastructure by enabling premium voice and data plans, potentially covering both retail and enterprise customers. The initiative comes after Reliance Jio’s push into enterprise use-case offerings, signaling a new battleground in 5G monetization.
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