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Information relating to conservation of energy,<br />
technology absorption, research and development and<br />
foreign exchange earnings and outgo forming part of<br />
Directors’ Report in terms of section 217(1)(e) of the<br />
Companies Act, 1956 read with the Companies<br />
(Disclosure of Particulars in the Report of the Board of<br />
Directors) Rules, 1988.<br />
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY<br />
ABSORPTION<br />
The information in Part A and B pertaining to conservation of<br />
energy and technology absorption are not applicable to<br />
Bharti <strong>Airtel</strong>, being a telecommunication services provider.<br />
However, the Company requires energy for its operations and<br />
every endeavor has been made to ensure the optimum use of<br />
energy, avoid wastage and conserve energy as far as possible.<br />
The Company continuously evaluates global innovation and<br />
technology as a benchmark and whenever required, enters<br />
into arrangements to avail of the latest technology trends<br />
and practices.<br />
FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNING AND OUTGO<br />
Activities relating to export initiatives taken to increase<br />
exports; development of new export markets for<br />
products and services; and export plans;<br />
International Long Distance Business<br />
The Company’s long distance business has seen significant<br />
growth and with India’s increasing integration into the global<br />
macro economy, further growth is anticipated. The Company<br />
has strong relationships for under-sea networks and<br />
continues to look for opportunity to invest in major cable<br />
systems to increase its presence and share of global traffic.<br />
International Calling Card Services<br />
The Company offers cost effective and reliable international<br />
calling services (<strong>Airtel</strong> CallHome) and Value Added Services,<br />
through its wholly owned subsidiary companies and<br />
connects the widespread NRI population in USA, UK, Canada<br />
and Singapore to their families in India and several other<br />
locations worldwide. The Company also plans to extend its<br />
wide range of services to other countries of the world<br />
through its global network.<br />
Telecom Services in other countries<br />
The Company continuously explores and evaluates various<br />
opportunities for growth and expansion inside and outside<br />
the country organically and through alliances,<br />
Annexure - B<br />
mergers/acquisitions in identified markets, subject to<br />
availability of licenses, growth potential and cost as well as<br />
other relevant factors.<br />
Bharti <strong>Airtel</strong> entered its second year of operations in Sri Lanka<br />
through its wholly owned subsidiary Bharti <strong>Airtel</strong> Lanka (Pvt)<br />
Ltd. Marketing voice and data solutions through a state of the<br />
art 3.5G network, the operations crossed one million revenue<br />
earning customers’ mark in less than 6 months of launch.<br />
Having gained leadership on both incremental customer<br />
market share and revenue market share indices, Bharti <strong>Airtel</strong>’s<br />
first international foray has been recognised as Sri Lanka’s<br />
fastest growing wireless service provider. The Company has<br />
commenced its expansion into the newly liberated North and<br />
East geographies of the country, which were inaccessible<br />
until now.<br />
In January 2010, the Company acquired 70% stake in Warid<br />
Telecom, Bangladesh (Warid) through infusion of fresh equity<br />
of approx USD 300 mn. Warid offers mobile services across all<br />
64 districts of Bangladesh with a distribution network of 124<br />
distributors and 34,000 retailers across the country.<br />
On March 30, 2010, Company entered into a legally binding<br />
definitive agreement with Zain Group to acquire Zain Africa<br />
B.V. based on an enterprise value of USD 10.7 bn. Zain’s<br />
African mobile services operations cover 15 countries with a<br />
total customer base of over 42 mn. With telecom penetration<br />
of approximately 32%, Zain covers a total population of over<br />
450 mn in the region. The countries in which Zain Africa<br />
operates are - Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville,<br />
Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya,<br />
Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania,<br />
Uganda and Zambia. Zain is the market leader in 10 of the 15<br />
countries and second in 4 countries. Along with Zain Africa<br />
B.V., the Company is the first Indian brand to go truly global<br />
with a footprint that covers over 1.8 bn people, with<br />
operations in 18 countries across Asia and Africa having a<br />
customer base of over 180 mn. This cross-border transaction<br />
is expected to further strengthen the historic Indo-Africa<br />
economic & social ties and provide a big boost to South-<br />
South cooperation.<br />
Total foreign exchange used and earned for the year:<br />
(a) Total Foreign Exchange Earning Rs 17,943 mn<br />
(b) Total Foreign Exchange Outgo Rs 34,583 mn