NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JAN 28
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced it has successfully demonstrated live 5G service over a commercial network in Hyderabad city, underlining the 5G readiness of its network across domains.
The full impact of the 5G experience, though, would be available to Airtel customers when the adequate spectrum is available, and government approvals are received.
The demonstration in Hyderabad has highlighted the company’s technology capabilities, Airtel said in a virtual media conference.
Bharti Airtel MD and CEO, Gopal Vittal, said: “I am very proud of our engineers who have worked tirelessly to showcase this incredible capability in Tech City, Hyderabad today. Every one of our investments is future-proofed as this game-changing test in Hyderabad proves”.
Vittal added: “With Airtel being the first operator to demonstrate this capability, we have shown again that we have always been the first in India to pioneer new technologies in our quest for empowering Indians everywhere.”
India has the potential to become a global hub for 5G innovation, he said adding this would require the coming together of an ecosystem – applications, devices, and network innovation.
“We are more than ready to do our bit,” Vittal said.
Randeep Sekhon, Chief Technology Officer, Bharti Airtel, said, “To boost the AtmaNirbhar Bharat mission of the Government of India, its vendors have committed to manufacture 5G network gears in India.”
The demonstration of the live 5G service in Hyderabad was conducted over an existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band.
“Using a first of its kind, dynamic spectrum sharing, Airtel seamlessly operated 5G and 4G concurrently within the same spectrum block,” Airtel said.
