Partnering to boost India’s 5G network, Airtel and Nokia eye faster speeds, smarter networks, and seamless service with AI-driven automation across the nation.
Bharti Airtel and Nokia have announced an expanded partnership to accelerate the deployment of next-generation 5G services across India. The collaboration will focus on integrating Nokia’s Packet Core appliance-based solution and fixed wireless access (FWA) technology to deliver better connectivity for both 4G and 5G users.
According to the companies, the advanced solution enables seamless convergence of 4G and 5G technologies onto a single server platform, improving network efficiency and service delivery. The solution also helps lower the cost per bit of data by combining appliance-based Packet Core gateways with cloud-native elements.
Nokia’s FWA will also expand home broadband capacity and support enterprise-critical applications, particularly those requiring high-speed connectivity.
Airtel will adopt Nokia’s automation framework to enable zero-touch service launches and streamline lifecycle management of core network functions. This shift aims to reduce operational costs while enhancing the speed and reliability of service delivery.
Airtel will also simplify its network architecture, supporting its long-term 5G evolution and reducing its hardware footprint.
The multi-year agreement spans most of Airtel’s service areas across India and focuses on network automation and the use of generative AI for service orchestration and assurance.
Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Airtel, said the deployment reflects a shared vision of improving network reliability and meeting growing data demands. “This rollout further demonstrates our longstanding success in jointly collaborating to strengthen the overall Airtel customer experience,” he noted.
Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, highlighted the role of the partnership in strengthening 5G SA readiness in India.
“We are both helping customers solve problems and furthering Nokia’s leadership position in the Core space, in India and around the world,” he said.
Nokia already supplies several key core technologies to Airtel, including VoLTE, HSS, HLR, UDM, VoNR, and MANO. Its modular, pre-integrated architecture offers flexibility in addressing different business and operational models, allowing Airtel to explore new markets and revenue streams.
