Airtel ties up with SKS Microfinance  ( July '18,2008, Business Standard)

As part of its Grameena Mobile Kranthi, Bharti Airtel has entered into a strategic tie-up with SKS Microfinance. The initiative is aimed at offering mobile handsets bundled with prepaid connections to SKS' members.

While Airtel will provide free prepaid SIM cards to the SKS members, the microfinance company has tied up with Nokia for handsets and would be providing loans to members to purchase the handsets.

"The initial Airtel-SKS launch is in four branches – Jogipet, Medak, Ramayampet and Siddipet. It will be launched at all the branches in Andhra Pradesh whereby 750,000 members will be benefited with this tie-up," said Elango T, CEO (mobile services), Airtel.

"Nearly 50 per cent of our 2.4 million members across 15 states will be first time mobile users and we hope to extend this product to all of them," said Vikram Akula, founder and chief executive of SKS.