Bharti Airtel has reportedly deployed 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and fiber connectivity at 6,000 retail locations for a large retail organisation, according to a senior executive from Airtel Business, the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel. Sharat Sinha, CEO of Airtel Business, highlighted the gradual rise of 5G network-driven "killer applications" across industries, as reported by ET.
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"Those killer applications have slowly started happening. I expect, over a period of time, combined with artificial intelligence, the developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) space, semiconductor industry and broader software-defined space, will lead to more innovations," Sinha said, speaking at the ETTelecom 5G Industries Innovation Summit 2024, as quoted in the report.
Industry Applications
Airtel has also deployed a private 5G network at a manufacturing facility, which has enabled autonomous mobile robots, smart surveillance, IoT, and various Industry 4.0 applications, Sinha added.
"The data collected from each connected device makes the manufacturing environment highly efficient and productive. We use a combination of edge computing and 5G to achieve this," Sinha said, according to the report.
In healthcare, Airtel is reportedly piloting several initiatives, including a 5G-enabled ambulance that could significantly improve emergency care. Sinha added that, if commercially deployed, it could "scale well." Airtel has also piloted AI-powered colonoscopy driven by 5G technology, as previously reported by TelecomTalk.
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Additionally, Airtel has deployed 5G FWA and fiber connectivity at 6,000 retail locations for a large retail organisation. "This is all working in coordination, leveraging the right data models. We are also using insights to plan the optimal retail locations," Sinha explained, according to the report.
Cybersecurity Concerns
While praising 5G's potential, Sinha also warned of the increased cybersecurity risks as more IoT devices and sensors connect to these networks. "Cybersecurity is a critical element that must be carefully addressed," he said. "As the world becomes more connected, it also becomes more vulnerable."
Sinha concluded by emphasising that 5G should not be viewed solely in terms of speed and latency. "It is the catalyst driving innovation across industries like manufacturing and healthcare. 5G is set to transform how we live, work, and entertain ourselves," he said, adding that Airtel aims to play a pivotal role in building the infrastructure for a digital India.
