Airtel likely to have renewed ₹10k cr deals for 4G, 5G gear

ET had reported on September 18 that Airtel is poised to honor agreements to get 4G radio network tools from Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung in addition to 5G network equipment. The instant purpose is to increase the shift of Airtel’s remaining feature phone users to smartphones and shore up user profits.

Airtel’s choice to go with an additional round of mobile broadband network development is linked to its objective of strengthening its 4G and 5G coverage in Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Kerala and West Bengal where it now has a minimal 4G visibility.

Airtel is believed to have already positioned breakthrough order (POs) for the first lot of base terminals– primarily 4G with some 5G versions– and shipments are likely to start extremely soon, several people aware of the matter said. Some 5G gear will certainly be selectively obtained in Airtel circles that see faster movement of 4G web traffic to 5G, going forward, they added.

Market insiders knowledgeable about the advancements claimed the telco prepares to raise its general 4G towers count to around 420,000 by FY27 from a little over 324,000 in Q1FY25. Moving forward, 5G base terminal additions will be need-based and the telco will certainly refarm 4G airwaves in both the 2100/2300 MHz bands once 5G adoption degrees grab and even more Airtel 4G users go 5G.

As of June-end, Airtel had 90 million 5G users and around 170 million 4G customers. The telco currently has the Indian telecom market’s finest standard revenue per user (ARPU) at Rs 211 a month, compared to Dependence Jio’s Rs 182 and Vodafone Concept’s Rs 146.

Bharti Airtel has actually completed multi-year agreements worth $1.2 billion with Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung for 4G and 5G equipment, aiming to improve its network capabilities over the next three years. The Swedish, Finnish, and South Oriental companies will certainly meet Airtel’s radio network needs across different Indian circles.