Airtel unveils new logo

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Number of subscribers crosses 200 million

The country’s largest telecom service provider Bharti Airtel has touched the 200-million subscriber base, out of which over 150 million are Indian subscribers. To mark the occasion, the company unveiled its new brand logo aimed at synergising all its global operations.

The company, which had acquired Zain Telecom operations in 15 African countries earlier this year at $10.7 billion, will change the brand name to Airtel from Zain on Friday. The company’s new look would be launched in Bangladesh within the next 30 days and in Sri Lanka in a couple of weeks, said Bharti Airtel Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Bharti Mittal.

Besides the logo, the company has also changed the signature Airtel tune with a new one by music composer A R Rehman.

“Today as we expand on the global stage, this new brand identity gives us the opportunity to present a single powerful and unified face to our customers, stakeholders and partners around the world,” said Mittal.

The company, however, refused to reveal the investment figures. Bharti Airtel will also launch its much-awaited 3G mobile services by the end of next month. Bharti had won spectrum for 3G services in 13 circles.

“Telecom is a very capital intensive sector and we need serious commitment of investment in the sector for its development... don’t take this sector for granted. We are subject for all regulatory policies. We subject ourselves to whatever policy change,” he said.

Tata DoCoMo, the GSM arm of Tata Teleservices, has already launched 3G services in nine circles where it has spectrum. Besides, state-run firms BSNL and MTNL are already offering 3G services. While Vodafone Essar plans to launch its 3G services by the end of the first quarter of 2011.