Now Tata Teleservices customers will start enjoying services on Airtel's network

Key Highlights

• Airtel has begun porting out Tata Teleservices customers to its network.
• Customers will be able to use existing SIM cards and tariff plans.
• Tata Tele had a debt of about Rs 40,000 crore on its books.

After announcing that India’s telecom major, Airtel will acquire its customers, Tata Teleservices subscribers will now begin transitioning its subscribers to the former's network.

Airtel that has picked up the 20-year old loss making business of Tata Group’s telecom arm will gain 4 crore Tata Tele subscribers and close to 178 MHz of additional spectrum.

“Tata Teleservices customers will start transitioning to the Airtel mobile network under an Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement,” Airtel said on Tuesday night.

Transition of subscribers will be done in a phased manger. The company said that the first batch of the transition is being effected in UP (West), Bihar, and West Bengal.

“Over the coming weeks, all consumer mobile customers of Tata Teleservices across all circles will gradually transition to the Airtel network,” the operator said.

Customers will not need to change their SIM cards and ‘will also be billed as per their existing plans/pack benefits’.

“We are delighted to welcome the Tata mobile customers on to India’s largest network and look forward to serving them with our worldclass services. The transition will be fully seamless and nothing changes for Tata customers, who will continue on the same SIM and plan,” Ajai Puri, Chief Operating Officer, Bharti Airtel said.

Commenting on the transition, T Elango, President – Consumer Business, Tata Teleservices said, “As we rationalise our network assets on a staggered basis, we have decided to begin transitioning our mobile customers to the Airtel network under an ICR arrangement. We assure our customers of best in class services with zero disruption.”

Tata Tele had a debt of about Rs 40,000 crore on its books.

In the month of September Tata Group Chairman, N Chandrasekaran said made a statement about cutting off loss making Tata Teleservices’ connection. During the same month a total of 54.9 lakh requests for mobile number portability was received as against 50 lakh in August, as per TRAI data.

Airtel will reportedly not pay Tata Teleservices for this acquisition and is simply absorbing its spectrum, customers and 5,000 employees, a report by The Hindu said.