5G Yet to Create New Revenue Streams for Telecom Operators, Says Airtel Executive: Report

5G Yet to Generate Additional Revenue for Any Telco Globally, Says Airtel Executive: Report
Even after three years since its launch, 5G has yet to generate new revenue streams for telecom operators in India or elsewhere in the world, with speed being its only differentiator from 4G, according to a senior executive at Bharti Airtel. This comment comes just after Airtel announced on Tuesday that it had closed a 5G Core equipment deal with Ericsson to transition Airtel’s non-standalone (NSA) network to a 5G standalone (SA) mode.

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Also Read: Bharti Airtel Partners with Ericsson to Transition to 5G Standalone in India

Airtel’s Transition to 5G SA

Bharti Airtel may begin switching its 5G services to a 5G SA network—moving away from the NSA mode it has been using—in one or two cities within three years, The Economic Times reported, citing a senior Airtel executive. The executive noted that India’s second-largest telecom operator has significant traffic on its 4G bands, and there is no tangible benefit for users in shifting modes.

No Intention to Immediately Switch on SA

“SA…we are already doing it for our fixed wireless access (FWA) piece and all our core networks are anyway SA-ready. But we have no intention to switch on SA now for some time. We have done a long-term deal with Nokia and Ericsson, and over a period of five years, all of this will shift. But nothing on the anvil right now,” the executive reportedly said.

Also Read: Telcos Have Reached a Saturation Point with Limited Monetisation Prospects?