Bharti to spend Rs125 cr on telecom network, CSR in Gabon

India's biggest telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said the company will invest an additional $125 million in the West African country of Gabon on commercial and social programmes.

"We are in Gabon for the long haul and will support both commercial and social programmes. These include the deployment of 3G and 4G networks, when made available, to help businesses and the youth access world class data services," Airtel's managing director and chief executive (international) Manoj Kohli said in a statement.

The investment of $125 million was announced by company on the sidelines of The New York Forum Africa, held in Libreville, Gabon, the statement added.

"In addition, continued support in youth driven activity like soccer and the support of a young Gabonese ICT entrepreneurship programme to provide ICT training to 10,000 youth over the next three years. We plan to develop training programs on ICT business in collaboration with local training schools," Kohli said.