Bharti Enterprises has completed 50 years. Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, in an interview with Rishi Raj & Ojasvi Gupta, reflects on the transformation of India’s telecom sector, the group’s ambitions beyond telecom, the opportunities in AI and digital infrastructure, and why professional management will remain central to its future. Excerpts: Q. Bharti completes 50 years at a time when India’s digital economy has undergone a remarkable transformation. How do you look at the evolution of the telecom sector and its contribution to the country? A. We now have strong digital players. We would not have been able to serve the country without them. Look at the number of daily transactions taking place on UPI alone, and add to that net banking, health records, DBT transfers and everyday payments. You begin to understand the scale of digital activity taking place on mobile phones.