Bharti launches Venture fund of Rs 2 billiion($44 million)

Bharti Airtel Ltd has launched a venture fund on Thursday with an initial Rs2 billion ($44 million) to promote content and technology development.
India, with nearly 300 million mobile users, is the second largest wireless market in the world after China, and still has the potential for further huge growth as only just over a quarter of its billion-plus population use cellphones now.
Operators are signing up 8-9 million users every month, and consultancy Garter expects 737 million connections by 2012.
The growth potential has encouraged mobile operators to step up investment on technology and content as they look to tap underdeveloped rural areas.