Tata Tele is second telco Bharti Airtel is getting virtually free this year

Bharti to pay only Rs 1,500-cr spectrum payout for Tata Tele; in its 149-year history, Tatas have never shut down any major unit; this merger deal is being seen as a face-saver for the group

Bharti Airtel, which earlier this year took Norwegian telco Telenor for virtually free, has now acquired Tata Teleservices -- again, for almost free -- taking consolidation in the stressed telecom sector to a new level. 

The cash-free debt-free deal, which will bring in over 71 MHz of liberalised spectrum and add 40 million customers to the Sunil Bharti Mittal-led company at a throwaway price, will also mean that the $103-billion Tata group won’t have to shut down its telecom business and worry about thousands of job losses. In its 149-year-old history, the Tatas have never shut down any major unit,