In a move that could reshape the future of mobile communication in the country, Bharti Airtel has renewed its partnership with Google to roll out Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging on its network.

The development comes after nearly a year of distance between the two companies over offering the next-generation messaging standard to Airtel subscribers.

According to an Economic Times report, both companies have now signed an agreement that will see Airtel begin offering RCS—positioned globally as a modern, feature-rich successor to traditional SMS—using Google’s platform.

The renewed partnership signals a significant shift in India’s messaging landscape at a time when telcos and tech giants are increasingly aligning their communication technologies with global standards.