Highlight
- Airtel plans to deploy a 5G standalone network
- By August- September announced by Airtel MD Gopal Vittal.
The telecom company Bharati Airtel plans to deploy a 5G standalone network to support its fixed wireless access (FWA) in the country by August- September announced by Airtel MD Gopal Vittal.
Airtel Outlines Broadband Growth Potential
Airtel believes that broadband prices in India are still comparatively low compared to other countries, indicating a potential market size exceeding 60-65 million subscribers.
While the broadband market is currently concentrated in the top 1000 cities, Airtel’s WiFi services, including Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), have a wider reach, extending to 1300 cities. Vital, a company executive, emphasized that fiber is the primary medium for connecting homes in India.
Airtel’s Shift to 5G SA to Boost FWA Services
Airtel’s FWA service, currently limited to around 27 cities, lags behind Jio’s expansive coverage of over 5500 cities. Previously relying on non-standalone (NSA) 5G technology, which leverages existing 4G infrastructure, Airtel’s FWA growth faced challenges.
To address this, the company is now deploying standalone (SA) 5G networks to bolster its FWA services in multiple cities.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about Airtel Xstream Airfiber
Conclusion
Airtel’s FWA service currently lags behind competitors in terms of coverage. The deployment of 5G standalone (SA) technology is expected to accelerate FWA growth and deliver high-speed broadband services to customers.
Notably, Airtel will be the first telecom operator to offer both NSA and SA 5G networks.
