Telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, today announced the launch of high-speed 4G internet services in Lakshadweep Islands. With this launch, Airtel becomes the first telco to offer 4G services in the Islands and also connects it to the digital superhighway. Starting today, Airtel 4G is live across Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti islands, and the company says the coverage will be gradually expanded across the islands over the next few months. Until now, mobile users in Lakshadweep Islands had to settle down with 3G services and even visitors travelling to the location also had to deal with poor internet speeds. But that's changing now as Bharti Airtel has brought its 4G services to the tropical archipelago allowing the residents and visitors to browse the web seamlessly.
Airtel 4G Now Live Across Three Islands in Lakshadweep
According to Airtel, the company now has 4G coverage across length and breadth of India. Last year, Airtel launched its 4G services in Leh/Ladakh, and later on, the services were introduced in Andaman & Nicobar Islands as well. From Andaman & Nicobar to Lakshadweep and Leh/Ladakh to Kanyakumari, Airtel is serving customers with world-class mobile broadband services and contributing to the Government’s Digital India vision, said the company in a press statement. Furthermore, it added, "Airtel has also taken the lead in expanding its high-speed networks to the remotest corners of the North East and empower citizens in the region."
Commenting on the launch Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary – Department of Telecom, said: “I would like to congratulate Bharti Airtel on the launch of 4G services in Lakshadweep. This is yet another milestone towards building a digitally enabled India and empowering every Indian through access to digital services. The Government remains fully committed to supporting the telecom industry in their endeavour.”
Airtel Offering Free Upgrade to 4G SIM Card
As noted, Airtel's 4G services will initially be available in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti, and it will be expanded to other parts of the islands going forward. Also, the telco stated Airtel customers in the islands can upgrade to 4G SIM card for free, but it did not reveal any free data offer though. Airtel has simplified its tariff portfolio recently and is only providing very limited plans to the subscribers. There are a total of four postpaid plans and less than 50 prepaid plans available to the customers right now.
Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India and South Asia), Bharti Airtel said, “We are truly proud to become the first operator to launch 4G services in Lakshadweep and put the last remaining remote territory on the digital superhighway. Airtel 4G now reaches the farthest corners of India and empowers customers by connecting them to the world of digital services. Mobile broadband is also an important economic enabler, and Airtel 4G will also add to Lakshadweep’s growth, connecting customers and businesses. We remain fully committed to building a Digital India and invite everyone to experience Airtel 4G, which has been consistently rated as the fastest network by multiple platforms.”
For the unaware, Airtel was the first private telecom service provider to launch mobile services in Lakshadweep back in April 2008, and now, it became the first telco to launch 4G services as well.
