After Reliance Jio, Airtel plans to add airwaves in eight key markets

Competitive intensity between Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel NSE -0.44 % is set to rise. Just days after Reliance Jio said it was deploying additional spectrum across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bharti Airtel has set in motion plans to add airwaves in eight key markets, including Punjab and Gujarat, in the coming weeks.

Sunil Mittal-led Airtel rolled out additional airwaves in the 1800 MHz band in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Monday and will add units in the 900 MHz band in the latter two circles shortly.