Ericsson wins multi-year, multi-billion dollar deal from Airtel

Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson has won a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar extension deal from Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel Ltd for 4G and 5G radio access network (RAN) products and solutions, a company statement said.

The companies did not disclose either the financial details or the duration of the contract.

The deal comes close on the heels of Ericsson’s Finnish rival Nokia winning a multi-billion-dollar 5G extension deal from Bharti Airtel for its India operations last month.

With more customers pivoting to 5G, Airtel is re-allocating its mid-band spectrum to expand services on its 1800, 2100, 2300 MHz bands across the country.

The use of the mid-band spectrum will help customers access enhanced browsing speeds and improved indoor connectivity, the company said.

Airtel has signed the new contract with Ericsson to upgrade its mobile network.

The agreement involves implementing advanced network technologies that will allow Airtel to work with various equipment suppliers, enhancing flexibility and network performance.

The upgrade includes enhancing the existing 4G network and preparing for 5G capabilities, aiming to expand coverage and improve service quality.

Randeep Sekhon, Airtel’s chief technology officer, said the upgrade will boost network speed, reliability, and coverage, providing better connectivity experience for the telco’s customers.

“The partnership extension reflects our shared vision to build a robust 4G and 5G infrastructure for Bharti Airtel to serve the connectivity needs of its customer base – including the new 5G use cases as they emerge,” Andres Vicente, Ericsson’s head for southeast Asia, Oceania and India, said.

Ericsson, a leader in 5G technology, operates 170 live 5G networks in over 70 countries and has been Airtel’s partner for over 25 years, supporting advancements in mobile technology.

On 20 November, Airtel expanded its 5G preparations by signing another agreement with Nokia to use its latest gear, which promises improved performance and energy efficiency.

The development comes as rival Vodafone Idea Ltd (Vi) also moves to enhance its network, having arranged a big deal in September with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung. Vi plans to launch 5G services by March.

Airtel serves over 550 million customers across 17 countries in South Asia and Africa.