Ericsson to aid Airtel in its 4G network expansion

Bharti Airtel has extended its contract for 4G network expansion with Ericsson for the eight telecom circles in the country. This move will help the company to get ready for the deployment of 5G technology in the next few years.    

Under this multi-year contract, Ericsson will supply and deploy 5G-ready radio and transport solutions to the telco. The latest extension follows the recent announcement of a renewed pan-India managed services contract between the two sides in July.

Both the companies did not reveal the financial details of the contract. Airtel has recently signed a similar contract with Nokia for nine circles which was valued at around $1 billion. Nokia will deploy around 300,000 radio units for Bharti Airtel by 2022 to significantly expand its 4G network.

“At Airtel, we are obsessed with delivering the best network experience to our customers, especially in these unprecedented times when digital connectivity is more important than ever. We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Ericsson as part of our endeavour to build a network ready for 5G and beyond,” Randeep Sekhon, Chief Technology Officer, Bharti Airtel, said.

Ericsson said the continued deployment of its radio products and solutions will enhance Bharti Airtel’s network capacity and deliver a superior experience to its customers. The telco is also deploying products to increase its network’s backhaul capacities.