Airtel set for big leap in N K'taka

Airtel, Karnataka's leading mobile service, is all set to take a big leap into the next level of network growth in the state this year.

According to V Venkatesh, CEO, Mobile Services, BhartiAirtel Ltd Karnataka, Airtel, which already offers a network twice the size of its nearest competitor, aims to increase population coverage to 85 per cent.

Airtel covers 75 per cent of the overall population in North Karnataka. Presently, it covers around 2,000 gram panchayats, 640 km of the highways and 1,414 kms of rail roads of North Karnataka.

Venkatesh told Business Standard that the market for mobile telephony had grown tremendously in North Karnataka and Belgaum in particular was one of the largest districts with a huge potential for wireless penetration and growth.

Airtel aims to expand coverage to more than 500 towns and villages in North Karnataka.

Having a diverse floating population, Belgaum has attracted Airtel¿s focus and the mobile service provider company is focussing on very target segment in a sustained manner.

Airtel will be at the forefront of catalysing Belgaum¿s wireless growth in the coming months with an aim to cover 90 per cent of the population of Belgaum and Bagalkot districts by March 2008 through network and distribution expansion.

Airtel will be adding 100 new network sites in and around Belgaum and Bagalkot.

To keep pace with the growing network, Airtel is strengthening its distribution network in Belgaum by increasing the number of retail outlets to about 8,500 and the number of distributors to 300 by 2008. Venkatesh said Airtel Karnataka had crossed the 5 million customer milestone recently.

For rural customers, Airtel recently launched a unique Kannada VAS portal enabling them to enjoy Value-Added Services in the language of their choice.

With the intention of driving down costs to make mobile telephony more affordable, Airtel recently launched a new handset bundle offer which gives customers value for money.