Airtel partners with Nokia to boost 5G services in India
Bharti Airtel has signed a multi-year, multi-billion dollar market extension deal with Nokia. The deal will see the deployment of 4G and 5G equipment across several Indian cities. Bharti Airtel's Vice Chairman and MD Gopal Vittal said that this strategic partnership will enhance connectivity solutions for Airtel customers, by future-proofing their network infrastructure.
Nokia to deploy 5G AirScale equipment for Airtel
The deal with Nokia will enhance Airtel's 5G capacity and facilitate its network evolution. Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its 5G AirScale equipment including baseband units, base stations, and the latest generation of Massive MIMO radios. All these installations will be powered by Nokia's energy-efficient ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, laying the groundwork for Airtel's future 5G network services in India.
Deal to modernize Airtel's existing 4G network
The deal also entails the deployment of multiband radios and baseband equipment to modernize Airtel's current 4G network. Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, said this agreement bolsters collaboration between the two companies. He added it will improve the energy efficiency of Airtel's network while delivering premium 5G connectivity and high-quality service for its subscribers.
Airtel and Nokia's 'Green 5G Initiative'
The deal between Airtel and Nokia comes as part of their recently launched 'Green 5G Initiative.' The program seeks to enhance the energy efficiency of Airtel's network while cutting down on carbon emissions. The move is in line with the company's emission reduction targets. Airtel also plans to use Nokia's MantaRay Network Management for AI-based monitoring and management of its network.
