Armonk, New York-based technology major IBM won a multi-million-dollar contract to deploy a blockchain-based India-wide network which will allow Bharti Airtel, India’s largest mobile service provider, to protect its 284 million subscribers from unsolicited calls and messages.
The commercial deployment is already underway and both companies are expected to meet the regulator’s orders on unsolicited commercial communication to come into effect before end of May 2019. The technology will also help the operator in mobile number portability, interconnect settlements, supply chain streamlining, and content partner settlements.

Vishal Awal, vice president – telecom (global business services), IBM India/South Asia said, “This network will shape up to be the world’s first ‘Multi Cloud Telecom Blockchain Network’ – a significant landmark that clearly highlights the modularity and architectural flexibility of the blockchain fabric.” The Blockchain opportunity within the telecom domain is poised to grow exponentially across a wide range of regulatory or compliance and business use cases, Awal added.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
