Airtel to Soon Upgrade Its 5G Network

Bharti Airtel has successfully piloted seamless switching between standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes on its 5G network in Rewari, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar. This initiative addresses the growing demand for 5G services in these regions.

Now, it is re-farming its existing mid-band network spectrum to improve 5G coverage across India. The telecom operator is reallocating its 1800, 2100, and 2300 MHz bands to enhance the overall user experience for its customers.

Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, stated, "As more customers pivot to our 5G services, we have re-farmed our mid-band spectrum, which was being used for 4G services." He added that this development prepares Airtel to launch standalone technology.

Airtel is also collaborating with smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to promote combined NSA and SA binaries with carrier aggregation functionality. This feature allows smartphones to switch seamlessly between NSA and SA 5G networks.

"With this, we are also ready to launch standalone technology. This will mean that the Airtel network will be the first network in India to run on both standalone and non-standalone modes, allowing us to deliver the best experience in the market," Sekhon said.

Previously, Airtel's 5G network was limited to non-standalone standards. With this new development, Airtel becomes the first telecom operator in India to offer both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks. This dual-mode capability ensures a superior user experience.

Airtel's efforts reflect its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements while catering to the increasing demand for high-speed internet services among its users.