Bharti Airtel will launch a 5G cellular network later this August earlier than expected after the auction. The operator claims it will offer the best 5G customer experience with a solid combination of speed and coverage.
To switch on its next-gen broadband service, the company has announced a partnership with Samsung and other gear vendors. Currently, the operator is stressing the imminent launch of the 5G network to lead as being the first telco in India.
At a recent 5G spectrum auction in India, Airtel managed to rake in a total of 19867.8 MHz spectrum. The company boasts frequencies in five bands – 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz. The company spent a total of Rs 43,084 crore in to land the diverse 5G frequencies including the mmWaves.
On Wednesday, August 3rd, the company signed an agreement with Samsung, Ericson, and Nokia for 5G deployment.
Do read: 5G Users to Exceed 1 Billion in 2022, India to Add 30 MN
Airtel to launch 5G in August
“We are delighted to announce that Airtel will commence roll out of 5G services in August. Our network agreements are finalized and Airtel will work with the best technology partners from across the world to deliver the full benefits of 5G connectivity to our consumers. India’s transition into a digital economy will be led by telecom and 5G presents a game-changing opportunity to drive the digital transformation of industries, enterprises, and the socio-economic development of India,” Gopal Vittal, MD, and CEO, Airtel stated.
The company will also make the best use of its industry partners to offer the best 5G experience.
“Choice of multiple partners would enable Airtel to roll out 5G services spanning ultra-high-speeds, low latency, and large data handling capabilities,” the company stated.
Also see: Everything about 5G Network and 5G Applications
Airtel is India’s second-largest telecom operator with a strong base of 360 million subscribers. Meanwhile, India is the second largest telecommunication market in the world.
So far, rival telcos Jio, and Vodafone have not officially responded to the news of Airtel 5G. However, in an unsubstantiated report, Akash Ambani, Chairman of Jio reportedly said Jio will announce 5G on August 15th on the 75th Independence Day of India. Still, there is no official statement for either of the companies for their 5G rollout plan.
As to who becomes the first to launch 5G service in India remains to be seen but we may not need to wait long either.
