What’s in Airtel’s 5G Playbook?
Currently, Airtel has the largest mobile broadband footprint in the country, making it one of the flag bearers in taking India into the 5G revolution. Telcos have used a smart and deliberate strategy for spectrum acquisition over the years. This gives the telecom giant the largest pool of low and mid-band spectrum (sub GHz/1800/2100/2300 bands). Having a strong low- and mid-band spectrum means Airtel can provide a solid 5G coverage, while the massive capacity in the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands will allow the telco to create 100X capacity at a lower cost.
What the Airtel leadership has to say about the successful auction
Speaking on Airtel’s move towards a 5G future, Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel said, “Airtel is delighted with the results of the 5G auction. This spectrum acquisition in the latest auction has been a part of a deliberate strategy to buy the best spectrum assets at a much lower relative cost than our competition. This will allow us to raise the bar on innovation and meet the evolving needs of every discerning customer seeking the best experience in India. ,
Talking about Airtel’s alliance with the government’s Digital India vision, Vittal said, “We are confident that we will be able to provide the best 5G experience in India in terms of coverage, speed and latency. And B2B will allow both to change the established paradigms for the customers. 5G technology is the revolution that can transform India’s manufacturing, services and many other sectors. We are fully committed to the Digital India vision of the government and ensure that Will continue to do what is required to do so so that India becomes a beacon for the world in terms of technology.
Airtel is adding to its first legacy
5G technology has been gaining interest for the past few years, and Airtel has been at the forefront of bringing 5G to customers from the very beginning. Back in 2018, Airtel became the first telco in India to test 5G. In Kolkata, Airtel conducted the country’s first 5G trial on the 700 MHz band, and last year, the company conducted India’s first rural 5G trial in outlying areas of Delhi.
Airtel also hosted India’s first live cloud gaming demonstration on a 5G trial network in late 2021. In early 2022, the telco unveiled the country’s first 5G-powered live hologram of the iconic Indian cricketer – Kapil Dev – at a 175* replay event. ,
In addition to exploring 5G capabilities for consumers, Airtel launched India’s first private 5G network at the Bosch facility. The brand recently partnered with Apollo Hospitals to deliver its first 5G-connected ambulance to India.
Wondering how 5G will help you in your everyday life?
Superfast internet speed is not just limited to 4K video streaming on the go. Having 5G connectivity will translate to lower latency, so you can play console-level games on your handheld device, courtesy of next-level cloud gaming. Also, you will be able to enjoy better connectivity in densely populated places. For private and public sector enterprises, 5G internet connectivity will open new doors- from doctors performing remote surgeries to eCommerce to drone delivery to cloud-connected traffic control, the list is endless.
The road ahead for commercial 5G availability
With partnerships with tech majors like Ericsson, Samsung and Nokia for effective 5G deployment, Airtel plans to roll out 5G services across India, starting from major cities. What’s even better is that with the easy availability of 5G-capable smartphones, switching to the new technology should be relatively easy for the general public and is expected to happen rapidly.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced by Times Internet’s Spotlight team on behalf of Airtel.