Batelco has a 42.7% stake in S Tel, the Indian mobile operator which has licences to operate in Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam circles. S Tel announced the launch of services in three of the six circles (Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa) in December 2009 and by the end of the year had acquired over 141,000 customers, exceeding all expectations. Initiatives are underway to launch in the three remaining circles by the end of Quarter 1, 2010.