A widespread service disruption affected Bharti Airtel’s mobile and broadband networks across India on December 26, 2024, impacting thousands of subscribers nationwide. Users experienced various connectivity issues, including complete signal loss, dropped calls, and degraded internet speeds. The outage holds particular significance given Airtel’s recent implementation of an international call alert system designed to enhance security and combat phone scams across its network.
According to data from Downdetector.com, approximately 46 percent of affected users reported a total blackout, while 32 percent experienced no signal, and 22 percent faced mobile connectivity problems. The service interruptions were particularly pronounced in major urban centers including Gujarat, Delhi, Jaipur, Surat, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, with partial outages also reported in Lucknow, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Subscribers took to social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to report their inability to make calls, access mobile data, or use broadband services. Many users reported seeing “No Network” messages displayed on their devices for extended periods. The disruption affected both personal communications and digital service delivery, including India’s expanding digital identity infrastructure that relies heavily on stable telecommunications networks for services like eKYC verification.
The telecommunications provider, which ranks among India’s largest telecom operators, had not issued an official statement regarding the cause or expected resolution time of the service disruption as of the initial reports. The incident comes at a time when Indian telecom operators have been strengthening their security measures and infrastructure to support the country’s growing digital ecosystem, including initiatives for enhanced SIM card security and fraud prevention.
The service disruption highlights the significant economic impact of connectivity issues in India. Historical data indicates that in 2020, the country experienced economic losses of $2.8 billion due to 129 internet shutdowns that affected 10.3 million individuals. These figures underscore the critical importance of reliable telecommunications infrastructure in supporting India’s digital transformation and economic growth.
Sources: The New Indian Express, CivilsDaily, MoneyControl, India TV News
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