Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel is joining forces with Ericsson to amplify the 5G Core network deployment. This partnership is set to advance connectivity for millions of Airtel customers and businesses across India and facilitate Airtel’s shift towards a full-fledged 5G Standalone (5G SA) network.
Randeep Sekhon, Chief Technology Officer at Bharti Airtel, emphasized the pivotal role of Ericsson’s 5G Core solutions in enhancing Airtel’s long-term 5G strategy. This collaboration will bolster network capacity and provide innovative and differentiated services to customers. “Ericsson’s enduring partnership with Airtel has entered an exciting new phase, marked by the deployment of Ericsson’s 5G Core solutions to support Airtel’s transition to 5G Standalone,” he noted.
Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core will enable new monetization avenues through network slicing-based services and network API exposure, creating innovative use cases for consumers and enterprises, said Andres Vicente, head of Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India at Ericsson.
As per the agreement, Ericsson will integrate its signaling controller solution into Bharti Airtel’s network, and introduce its 5G Standalone-enabled charging and policy solution. This move is expected to enhance Airtel’s 5G monetization strategy and open new business models.
Bharti Airtel has also partnered with other technology firms like Nokia and Samsung for 5G services. In November 2024, Nokia extended its deal with Airtel to deploy 4G and 5G equipment in key Indian regions. It included deployment of Nokia’s 5G AirScale portfolio, featuring base stations and advanced radios powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology.