India : Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has announced the successful deployment of 100,000 Massive MIMO 5G radios for Bharti Airtel across its 12 circles, achieved within a record time of over 500 days. Airtel has utilized energy-efficient Ericsson Radio System products and solutions from Ericsson’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and MINI-LINK (microwave) mobile transport portfolios.
Nunzio Mirtillo, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania & India, states, “The successful deployment of 100,000 Ericsson 5G radios demonstrates our shared commitment to innovation, speed, and service quality. We remain dedicated to supporting Airtel in delivering a superior 5G experience to customers across India.”
Airtel and Ericsson’s collaboration extends beyond mere deployment, emphasizing co-creation and innovation. In October 2023, Airtel and Ericsson disclosed the successful testing of Ericsson’s pre-commercial Reduced Capability (RedCap) software on Airtel’s 5G network. This testing, conducted in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. utilizing its 5G RedCap test module, took place on a 5G TDD network, marking the initial implementation and validation of RedCap in India.
Since the introduction of 5G in India, Airtel has amassed over 65 million unique 5G customers on its network. Airtel’s 5G Plus service is presently accessible across districts nationwide and is projected to encompass the entire country by March 2024. Airtel and Ericsson reaffirm their commitment to their partnership spanning over 25 years, aiming to foster innovation, expedite 5G deployment, and provide unmatched connectivity throughout the nation.