Airtel clarifies on potential Tata-Bharti mega DTH merger talks: Reports

Bharti Airtel has issued a clarification regarding reports of a potential mega merger with Tata Group’s Direct-To-Home (DTH) business, Tata Play. The telecom giant confirmed that discussions are ongoing but emphasized that the matter is still in the early stages.

"Bharti Airtel Limited (‘Airtel’) and Tata Group are in bilateral discussions to explore a potential combination of Tata Group’s DTH business, housed under Tata Play Limited, with Bharti Telemedia Ltd, a subsidiary of Airtel, in a structure acceptable to all parties. However, the discussions remain at an exploratory stage," Airtel stated in a regulatory filing.

Airtel Partners with Ericsson for 5G Expansion

In a separate development, Airtel announced its collaboration with Ericsson to roll out 5G Standalone (SA) network technology. This partnership aims to enhance Airtel’s network capabilities, ensuring a seamless transition to a full-scale commercial 5G SA network over time.

Ericsson, which has been a key connectivity partner for Airtel for over 25 years, will deploy its Signaling Controller solution in Airtel’s network. Additionally, Ericsson’s 5G SA-enabled Charging and Policy solution will be introduced to improve network efficiency and service delivery.

Airtel Shares Rebound After Six-Day Losing Streak

Airtel’s stock saw a strong recovery on Tuesday, breaking its six-session losing streak and closing 2.55% higher at Rs 1,641.60 on the BSE. Approximately 1.94 lakh shares were traded, lower than the two-week average volume of 4.60 lakh shares. The stock’s market capitalization stood at Rs 9,36,048.43 crore.

From a technical standpoint, Airtel’s stock traded above the 5-day, 50-day, 100-day, 150-day, and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) but remained below the 10-day, 20-day, and 30-day SMAs. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) stood at 48.56, indicating neutral momentum.

Financially, Airtel’s price-to-equity (P/E) ratio was recorded at 62.44, with a price-to-book (P/B) value of 9.66. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) stood at 26.29, while its return on equity (RoE) was 15.47%. As of December 2024, promoters held a 53.11% stake in the company.

Market Closure for Mahashivratri

Indian stock markets remained closed today due to the Mahashivratri holiday and will resume trading on Thursday.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. Readers are advised to consult a qualified financial expert before making any investment decisions.