Bharti Airtel, commonly known as Airtel, is a leading telecommunications company headquartered in India. It was incorporated on July 7, 1995, initially under the name Bharti Cellular Limited, before adopting its current name. The company has expanded its services globally, operating in 17 South Asian and African countries. Airtel is recognised as one of the top three mobile operators worldwide and the largest integrated communications solutions provider in India. It offers a diverse range of services, including high-speed broadband, digital payments, and enterprise solutions. Airtel's journey has been marked by strategic partnerships and acquisitions, such as the acquisition of competitor Telenor in 2018.

Alias
Telenor India
Country
India
Type
Mobile Network Operator
Airtel Chad logo

3G Network

Airtel launched its 3G services in India in January 2011, marking a significant milestone in its network evolution. The company initially rolled out 3G services with HSPA+ in major cities, enhancing mobile internet speeds and connectivity for its users. However, with the advent of 4G technology, Airtel began phasing out its 3G network. By August 2019, Airtel announced its intention to shut down its 3G services across India's 22 telecom circles by March 2020. The process commenced in July 2019, starting with Kolkata, followed by Haryana and Punjab. The shutdown was part of Airtel's strategy to refarm the 900 MHz spectrum for its 4G network, focusing on improving service quality and increasing Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).

Network Frequency Band Status
Shut Down

4G Network

Airtel's 4G journey began with the commercial launch of LTE TDD data-only services in Kolkata on April 10, 2012. By 2014, support for mobile devices was introduced, expanding the reach of 4G services. The company continued to enhance its 4G infrastructure, announcing in March 2015 that it had deployed 20,000 4G base stations, with plans to double this number within a year. Airtel's integrated FDD and TDD LTE network trials began in the Delhi NCR on June 18, 2015, leading to a nationwide expansion announced on August 6, 2015, covering an additional 296 cities. In February 2016, Airtel launched its LTE-Advanced service in Kerala, offering speeds of 135 Mbps by aggregating spectrum in bands 3 and 40. Similar services were launched in Mumbai by August 31, 2016. Airtel has also been trialling VoLTE to enhance voice call quality over its 4G network.

Airtel's network differs in deployment across its administrative divisions. Bands and EARFCNs are not harmonious across regions.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status Known EARFCNs
15
Active
265
15
Active
1276, 1421
10
Active
2535
10
Active
3669
20
Active
38750

5G Network

In July 2022, Airtel conducted India's first private 5G network trial at the Bosch Automotive Electronics India facility in Bengaluru, utilising trial spectrum allocated by the Department of Telecom (DoT). The trial demonstrated the potential of 5G technology in improving operational efficiency and reducing IT wired infrastructure. Airtel has also been exploring various 5G use cases across different industries as part of its #5GforBusiness initiative. The company has extended its partnership with Ericsson through a multi-year deal to enhance its 4G and 5G infrastructure, focusing on deploying advanced technologies to improve network speed, coverage, and reliability for its customers. The network was commercially launched in October 2022 using n78, later adding n1, n3, and n40 in July 2024.

Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status Known EARFCNs
10
Active
10
Active
20
Active
100
Active
634080