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Bharti Airtel to Boost Africa Stake to 79% in $3B Share-Swap Deal

India's second-largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel is expanding its international footprint through major stake increases in two markets. The company seeks shareholder approval for a cashless share-swap transaction to raise its Airtel Africa holding to 79% from 62.7%, valued at approximately $3 billion. Africa represents a high-growth opportunity, contributing over one-quarter of Bharti Airtel's consolidated revenue in the fiscal year ending March 2026. Separately, Bharti Airtel plans to increase its stake in British telecom firm BT Group to nearly 30% from 24.95%, gaining additional economic exposure without pursuing full control. The moves come as overseas stock markets outperform domestic indices, with the FTSE 100 up nearly 19% over the past year while India's Nifty 50 is down more than 4%.