IBM and telecom major Bharti Airtel have partnered yet again in a deal estimated at Rs 250 crore according to industry sources. As per the new deal IBM will manage the IT requirements of Bharti’s hived-off tower arm, Bharti Infratel.

A spokesperson from Bharti confirmed the deal and said that Bharti Infratel has outsourced its IT platform to IBM to bring in a comprehensive architecture that provides benefits to its customers, suppliers and employees. This is a continuation of Bharti’s strategic partnership with IBM across its various businesses, including Bharti Airtel and Bharti Retail says a news report in the Economic Times.

This is IBM’s seventh deal with Bharti Airtel over the last five years. In 2004, the US-based IT major had bagged a $750-million outsourcing deal from Bharti and this deal has already touched the $2.5 billion mark as of March-end 2009.

Last year, IBM Daksh, bagged a six-year contract to provide voice and back-office services, including customer service, collections, and customer retention, for Bharti’s customers.

Bharti and IBM also signed a $150-million deal under which the software major would handle all IT operations for the telcos’ direct to home television and Internet Protocol TV services.