Can Bharti Airtel’s ₹20,000 Cr NBFC Bet Become Its Next Big Growth Engine?

Synopsis:- Shares remain in focus after unveiling a ₹20,000 crore NBFC expansion plan, with 70% funding from the parent and 30% from promoters. Over ₹9,000 crore has already been disbursed, while brokerages see long-term diversification benefits despite a recent 3% dip in stock price.

The shares of the leading global communications solutions provider are in focus after the company announced major plans major push to build a high-scale NBFC platform.

With a market capitalization of Rs 11,07,063.75 crore, the shares of Bharti Airtel Ltd were trading at Rs 1,939.40 per share, decreasing around 3 percent as compared to the previous closing price of Rs 1,997.15 apiece

Investment plan

According to the company filing, Bharti Airtel has unveiled an ambitious plan to scale up its NBFC arm, Airtel Money Limited, with a proposed capital infusion of ₹20,000 crore over the next few years. The telecom major will contribute 70%, while Bharti Enterprises Limited will bring in the remaining 30%, reflecting strong promoter commitment toward expanding digital lending.

Moreover, the company is leveraging its vast digital ecosystem, 500+ data scientists, and advanced analytics to strengthen its credit engine. Having already disbursed over ₹9,000 crore with disciplined underwriting and strong delinquency control, Airtel now aims to deepen financial inclusion through secure, scalable, and technology-driven lending solutions across India.

Additionally, this expansion highlights Airtel’s strong intent to tap India’s underpenetrated credit market, where the credit-to-GDP ratio stands at 53%, indicating significant headroom for growth. The move also leverages its vast customer base to diversify revenue streams. By integrating the NBFC disbursement journey with its LSP platform, Airtel aims to deliver a seamless, technology-driven financial experience.

Meanwhile, brokerages remain constructive on the move. Morgan Stanley and Citi believe the NBFC expansion can unlock long-term value while diversifying revenue streams. Although capital intensity may rise, strong free cash flow generation is expected to cushion the leverage impact. However, both caution that achieving optimal returns and meaningful scale in lending could take a few years.

Recent partnership

Recently, Bharti Airtel Ltd partnered with Zscaler Inc to launch the AI & Cyber Threat Research Center in India. The initiative aims to strengthen national cyber resilience and promote trusted AI adoption, especially across critical sectors like telecom, banking, energy, and public digital infrastructure.

The move comes at a time when India is witnessing rapid digital transformation and rising cyber risks. Zscaler’s ThreatLabz has observed millions of infiltration attempts, including nation-state campaigns and zero-day exploits targeting Indian entities. Therefore, the new center will focus on real-time threat intelligence, AI-driven defenses, and adoption of Zero Trust security frameworks.

Bharti Airtel is one of the major telecommunications companies in India. The company offers a wide range of services related to telephony, broadband, digital television, and telephony services for businesses. It enjoys a significant presence in India and a few other nations.

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