Airtel and Blinkit Launch Instant SIM Card Delivery Service Across Major Indian Cities
Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, has launched an industry-first initiative in partnership with Blinkit to deliver SIM cards to customers’ doorsteps within just 10 minutes. The new service is already operational across 16 major Indian cities, with plans to expand further. As part of the launch, customers can now obtain a new Airtel SIM card for a minimum payment of Rs 49, with seamless Aadhaar-based eKYC activation.
The collaboration aims to simplify the customer onboarding process and extend Airtel’s digital-first approach. Blinkit, a hyperlocal quick commerce platform owned by Eternal Ltd, will handle last-mile delivery, while Airtel will facilitate digital SIM activation, self-KYC verification, and provide the option of prepaid or postpaid connections. The service also supports mobile number portability (MNP).
Highlights:
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Airtel SIM delivery in 10 minutes via Blinkit in 16 cities.
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Available at Rs 49 with Aadhaar eKYC authentication.
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Supports prepaid, postpaid, and number portability options.
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Expansion to more cities planned in the coming months.
Cities Covered Under Airtel-Blinkit SIM Express Delivery Program
According to Bharti Airtel’s stock exchange filing, the SIM delivery service has been launched across Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chennai, Bhopal, Indore, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. These 16 urban regions represent key telecom markets for Airtel, and the company intends to broaden the reach of the service over time.
The offering aligns with Airtel’s strategy of combining digital convenience with quick commerce logistics, enabling users to receive and activate SIMs at home without visiting stores or service centers. The integration of Blinkit’s delivery system with Airtel’s online onboarding process allows for near-instant fulfillment of new connections.
Highlights:
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Service currently live in 16 tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
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Cities selected based on high smartphone penetration and demand density.
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Further rollout expected in phases, focusing on large urban clusters.
Airtel Shares Rise Following Quick Commerce Expansion into Telecom
The announcement had an immediate positive impact on the stock market. Shares of Bharti Airtel rose by 2.26% to Rs 1,797.10, while Eternal Ltd (Blinkit’s parent firm) gained 2.63% to trade at Rs 222.80 by midday on April 15. Analysts noted that the move reflects a significant innovation in telecom distribution, bridging the gap between telecom services and hyperlocal logistics.
Albinder Dhindsa, CEO of Blinkit, described the partnership as a convergence of two tech-driven consumer service platforms. He highlighted that customers can now opt for new numbers or port existing numbers, complete the KYC process using their smartphone, and activate the connection in minutes — all without leaving their home.
Highlights:
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Airtel shares up 2.26%; Blinkit parent Eternal Ltd gains 2.63%.
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Markets view partnership as innovative use of quick commerce infrastructure.
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Positive investor sentiment driven by digital customer acquisition potential.
Enhanced Customer Experience Through Self-KYC and Video Onboarding
To support the new delivery model, Airtel has deployed a self-service video onboarding platform, allowing users to complete the Aadhaar-based KYC process online in real-time. Once the SIM card is delivered by Blinkit, users can activate their connection by scanning a QR code, watching a brief activation guide, and submitting Aadhaar authentication through the platform.
Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Connected Homes at Bharti Airtel, stated that the initiative is aimed at enhancing user experience by reducing wait times, eliminating paperwork, and providing real-time activation through digital verification.
This new approach is likely to improve conversion rates, reduce activation delays, and increase customer satisfaction in metro and tier-1 regions where time-saving services are in high demand.
Highlights:
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Self-service Aadhaar KYC via video authentication.
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Instant QR-code based SIM activation with guided onboarding.
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Expected to improve customer conversion and satisfaction rates.
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Fully paperless process with end-to-end digital customer journey.
