Bharti Airtel has expanded its network coverage to Man and Merak, two of the remotest villages near Pangong Lake on Ladakh’s eastern border, becoming the only telecom operator to bring reliable mobile connectivity to this strategically important region.

The stretch between Man and Merak, spanning nearly 50 km, has long faced a complete absence of telecom networks. Airtel’s high-speed connectivity rollout marks a major transformation for residents, security forces, and tourists, enabling communication in one of the country’s most challenging terrains.

With this deployment, the entire route between Chushul and Pangong Tso is now connected, a development expected to significantly boost tourism in the globally renowned destination.

“Connecting Man and Merak is a huge step forward in our mission to extend world-class digital access to India’s remotest regions,” said Dibyendu Aich, COO – Jammu & Kashmir, Bharti Airtel. He added that the new sites will support thousands of tourists visiting Pangong Lake and empower local communities by enabling digital payments, emergency services, and access to essential digital tools.

Airtel’s expansion in high-altitude and remote areas underscores its commitment to bridging the connectivity gap and strengthening India’s digital infrastructure, even in the most difficult environments.