New Delhi, March 02, 2026 – The GSMA has conferred a rare Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, recognising his transformative role in reshaping the global telecommunications landscape and expanding connectivity to billions worldwide.
The prestigious honour, bestowed on only a handful of industry leaders in GSMA’s history, celebrates contributions that have left a lasting and defining mark on the global communications ecosystem.
The award was presented during the globally renowned Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in the distinguished presence of Felipe VI, Pedro Sánchez, Salvador Illa, and other global industry leaders.
A Visionary Leader in Global Telecom
A pioneer in the telecom sector, Mittal built Bharti Airtel into one of the world’s leading mobile operators, with operations across India and Africa. Today, Airtel ranks among the top three mobile operators globally, serving over half a billion customers.
He played a pivotal role in expanding mobile services across emerging markets, helping bridge the digital divide. As Chairman of the GSMA from 2017 to 2018, he championed policies that encouraged investment and innovation while strengthening the industry’s commitment to connecting the unconnected and advancing digital inclusion.
Mittal was previously honoured with the GSMA Chairman’s Award in 2008 and again in 2016 for his outstanding contributions to the global mobile industry. He was also felicitated at Mobile World Congress in February 2019 in recognition of his Chairmanship.
“Telecommunication Expands Opportunity”
On receiving the award, Mittal said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and sincerely thank the GSMA for this award. I accept it not only as a personal milestone, but as a tribute to India’s telecom journey, the collective spirit of Bharti, and the rise of Indian telecom companies on the global stage.
Equally, the award reflects the progress of an industry that has connected billions and belongs to the customers we serve, the teams who built our institutions, and the partners who believe in the transformative power of connectivity.
Telecommunication is a force that expands opportunity, places essential services in the palm of every individual, and unlocks human potential. Helping shape its evolution into a powerful accelerator of modern progress has been a privileged responsibility. As innovation accelerates, we will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that growth advances equity and creates lasting opportunity for generations to come.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award remains one of the highest recognitions within the global telecom industry, reserved for individuals whose leadership and innovation have created a lasting legacy.
About Bharti Airtel
Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 600 million customers across 15 countries in India and Africa. The company also maintains a presence in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through associate entities.
Airtel ranks among the top three mobile operators globally, with networks covering over two billion people. It is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second-largest mobile operator in Africa.
Consumer Services
- High-speed 4G/5G mobile services
- Wi-Fi (FTTH + FWA) with speeds up to 1 Gbps
- Converged entertainment solutions
- Video streaming services
- Digital payments and financial services
Enterprise Solutions
- Secure connectivity
- Cloud and data centre services
- Cybersecurity
- IoT solutions
- Cloud-based communications
Airtel’s digital arm, Xtelify, empowers telecom operators globally to leverage AI, data, and technology to accelerate digital transformation. It also offers Airtel Cloud in India, providing enterprises with a sovereign, telco-grade cloud platform.
Through its subsidiary, Indus Towers Ltd, Airtel also delivers passive infrastructure services.
For more details, visit: www.airtel.com
About Airtel Africa
Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, operating in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The company serves 173.8 million customers with integrated mobile voice, data, and mobile money services.
Its strategy is focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience while expanding digital and financial inclusion to transform lives across the continent — in line with its corporate purpose.
For more information, visit: www.airtel.africa or connect via LinkedIn.
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