Bharti Airtel and Nokia Expand Core Network Collaboration to Accelerate 5G Service Delivery
The Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel and Finnish telecommunications company Nokia have announced an expansion of their collaboration to enhance core network capabilities and expedite the rollout of 5G services in India. This strategic move aims to improve network efficiency, scalability, and overall customer experience.
Strengthening 5G Infrastructure
As part of this extended partnership, Nokia will provide Airtel with advanced cloud-native core solutions, including its cutting-edge 5G Core, Voice-over-5G (Vo5G), and automation technologies. These solutions are designed to optimize network performance and ensure seamless connectivity for millions of users across India.
Nokia’s expertise in network transformation and Airtel’s commitment to delivering high-speed connectivity will enable faster deployment of next-generation mobile services. The collaboration will also support the growing demand for ultra-low latency applications, such as IoT, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), which rely heavily on 5G networks.
“Nokia’s innovative Packet Core deployment architecture enables critical changes to our network quality and reliability for meeting the fast-rising growth in customer data requirements. This rollout further demonstrates our longstanding success in jointly collaborating to strengthen the overall Airtel customer experience,” said Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Airtel.
“Nokia and Airtel have a long-standing partnership and we are pleased to bolster its 5G SA readiness. Airtel’s use of Nokia’s Packet Core to build greater network agility and reliability demonstrates how we are both helping customers solve problems and furthering Nokia’s leadership position in the Core space, in India and around the world,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.
Benefits for Consumers and Enterprises
With this enhanced network infrastructure, Airtel aims to deliver superior mobile broadband experiences, faster data speeds, and lower latency. Enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and smart cities will benefit from the improved network capabilities, paving the way for innovative use cases and digital transformation.
The collaboration will also focus on network automation and energy-efficient solutions, aligning with Airtel’s sustainability goals. Nokia’s cloud-native solutions will enable Airtel to manage network resources dynamically, ensuring better efficiency and cost optimization.
The Road Ahead for Airtel and Nokia
This extended partnership marks a crucial step in India’s 5G journey, reinforcing Airtel’s position as a leader in next-generation connectivity. With increasing 5G adoption, both companies are expected to continue innovating and expanding their network capabilities to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.
As the Indian telecom sector undergoes rapid transformation, Airtel and Nokia’s joint efforts will play a key role in shaping the future of connectivity in the country.
