10:00 PM -- India's largest operator, Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Mumbai: BHARTIARTL), might not be merging its networks and IT teams completely, but the carrier has recognized that bringing those teams closer together (a key element of Bridging the Chasm) is important for an optimal operational environment.

In an exclusive interview with Light Reading India, the operator's Network Services Group Director Jagbit Singh explains how Bharti has created a "cross-functional team" called Netit to bring the network infrastructure and back-office systems teams closer together. (See Bharti Adopts 'Netit' to Bridge the Chasm and Jagbir Singh: Director, Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel.)

Bharti isn't the only Indian operator that's Bridging the Chasm -- its rival Reliance Communications Ltd. was named as one of The Top 20 Bridge Builders by Light Reading for its practice of sharing skills and knowledge across its network and IT teams. (See RCom Named as Bridge Builder.)

For more on this topic, see Bridging the Chasm: A Manifesto and check out how other operators are adapting to the growing importance of Service Provider Information Technology (SPIT) issues at our Bridging the Chasm Briefing Center.

— Gagandeep Kaur, Editor, Light Reading India