Early Life and Education
Sunil Bharti Mittal was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, on October 23, 1957. He came from a business-oriented family, and his father was a Member of Parliament. Mittal graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1976.
Rise to Success
Mittal started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 18, initially making crankshafts for local bicycle manufacturers. He later diversified into importing and distributing portable electric-power generators, but a government ban on imports led him to seek new ventures. In 1984, he began assembling push-button phones, replacing the old rotary phones in India. This marked his entry into the telecommunications sector, which would become his primary source of wealth. In 1995, he launched Bharti Cellular Limited (BCL), offering cellular services under the brand name Airtel.
Key Business Strategies
Mittal's success is attributed to his ability to identify opportunities and his strategic vision. Bharti Airtel was one of the first companies to cross the 2-million mobile subscriber mark. He has also focused on customer satisfaction and affordable services to expand his customer base. The company's acquisition of Zain Telecom's African business for $10.7 billion in 2010 was a significant move, making it the largest acquisition by an Indian telecom firm.
Philanthropy
Mittal has been actively involved in philanthropy through the Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises. The foundation focuses on education, establishing schools in rural areas and providing free quality education to underprivileged children. It also supports other initiatives like sanitation.
