Bharti-Tata Tele deal: Sunil Mittal's 14-yr-old prophesy looks real today

Mittal had predicted that there would eventually not be more than four players in the telecom sector

Nearly 14 years ago, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal had said in an interview that eventually there would not be more than four players in the telecom sector. With the announcement of merger between the Tatas' wireless business and  Bharti Airtel, Mittal's prediction is fast turning out to be a reality. It's a different matter that at that time he may not have factored in the mayhem the market is witnessing now due to the entry of Reliance Jio.

Today, the telecom map has shrunk considerably from as many as 13 players in 2008-09. Operators are jostling for users, offering them