Bharti Airtel is reportedly working towards drastically enhancing 3G and 4G coverage and speeds in the Delhi circle with the help of Ericsson, which is now selected as the sole vendor for all the available technologies. With the help of this Swedish telecom gear maker, Airtel is modernization of all 2G sites, besides introducing a second carrier for 3G network, which will increase 3G speeds significantly. The telco is also adding new TD-LTE base stations using the 2300 MHz band in the circle for enhanced coverage and capacity, according to an Economic Times report.
The report added that Ericsson will also help Airtel launch a 4G carrier aggregation by combining FDD and TDD LTE technologies to offer faster speeds. Furthermore, Airtel can also potentially bring carrier aggregation across three bands which will allow it Airtel to offer very high speeds rates in Delhi.
“We are preparing Delhi for any strategic move that Airtel would want to make,” Paolo Colella, Head of Region India, Ericsson, was quoted as saying.
The latest move is aimed at countering the looming threat from Reliance Jio, which is currently offering free services in the country.
The latest contract, valued at Rs 816 crore, follows Bharti Airtel’s recent acquisition of additional 10 MHz spectrum in the 2300 MHz band and 5 MHz spectrum in 2300 Mhz band for Rs 1430 crore and Rs 2770 crore, respectively, the report said.
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Under the new 4-year modernization program, already initiated in this quarter, will bring these new airwaves into use for the telco to offer enhanced coverage and capacity.
Bharti Airtel, as per the report, has more than 6000 sites in the Delhi circle, which it will be expanding significantly.
“Densification of sites is something that every operator is looking at depending upon how the traffic develops. The natural densification is part of this contract,” Colella told.
Airtel had earlier issued a statement saying that it was upgrading its 3G network to “dramatically improve performance and deliver 4G like speeds even on 3G” after procuring additional spectrum.
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Airtel recently selected Finnish gear maker Nokia for 4G deployment and expansion contract in three new circles -- Gujarat, Bihar, and UP East. Nokia is already providing network technologies to Airtel in Mumbai, MP, West Bengal, Odisha, Punjab and Kerala circles.
