Bharti Airtel Partners Ericsson for Fixed Wireless Access Rollout
Bharti Airtel, a global communications solutions provider, has announced a new agreement with Ericsson to support the rollout of its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services across India. This strategic collaboration deepens the long-standing relationship between the two companies, focusing on enhancing Airtel's core network capabilities and capacity for FWA.This agreement marks a significant step in Airtel's efforts to expand its high-speed internet offerings, leveraging Ericsson's advanced core network portfolio. The partnership builds upon their previously established dual-mode 5G Core solution deal, which laid the groundwork for a unified and future-ready network infrastructure, crucial for Airtel's progression towards 5G Standalone (SA) capabilities.
As part of this new agreement, Ericsson is introducing an innovative platform designed to deliver higher capacity with a smaller physical footprint, promising a better total cost of ownership for Bharti Airtel. This technological advancement is expected to provide robust performance and seamless connectivity, even under conditions of rapidly increasing customer data requirements and peak demand.
Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, commented on the collaboration, stating, "Ericsson's innovative Packet Core deployment architecture represents a foundational enhancement, enabling critical improvements in network quality and reliability. This strategic implementation is specifically designed to accommodate rapidly increasing customer data requirements, ensuring robust performance and seamless connectivity even under peak demand. This rollout is another step in the sustained success of our collaboration with Ericsson, demonstrating our collective capability to leverage cutting-edge technology for elevated overall customer experience."
Andres Vicente, Head of Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania and India at Ericsson, also expressed his views on the partnership. He highlighted, "We are proud to continue our technology leadership journey with Airtel by enabling their next wave of 5G monetization through FWA. Ericsson's Local Packet Gateway (LPG) is designed to deliver high performance with efficiency and scale, making it ideal for driving Airtel's 5G FWA ambitions. This collaboration is not just about advanced technology - it's about enabling inclusive digital transformation and bridging the digital divide in the country."
The collaboration between Bharti Airtel and Ericsson spans over 25 years, covering multiple generations of mobile technology. This latest agreement reaffirms their shared commitment to powering India's digital future by bringing advanced connectivity solutions to a wider audience.
Bharti Airtel, headquartered in India, serves over 590 million customers across 15 countries in India and Africa, with additional presence in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through associate entities. The company ranks among the top three mobile operators globally and is India's largest integrated communications solutions provider. Its retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile, Wi-Fi (FTTH+FWA) offering speeds up to 1 Gbps, convergence across entertainment, video streaming, digital payments, and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel provides a comprehensive suite of solutions including secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cybersecurity, IoT, and cloud-based communication. The company also offers passive infrastructure services through its subsidiary, Indus Tower Ltd.
Ericsson is a global communication technology firm, with nearly 150 years of history. The company offers mobile communication and connectivity solutions for service providers and enterprises.