Bharti Airtel said that it will invest Rs 500 crore in network upgrade and another Rs 100 crore in associated activities in the current fiscal in the North East region.

“About Rs 500 crore will be invested in network rollout and around Rs 100 crore in other associated activities in 2009-10. The company had spent a similar sum last fiscal," said Bharti Airtel joint managing director Manoj Kohli.

He added that the company has invested close to Rs 1,800 crore since 2005 in the region. The company now aims to cover more highways, tourist hotspots and religious sites in Assam.

Airtel’s tower count will increase by 700 in the current fiscal. It has 3000 towers in the region at present.