Airtel says network 5G ready; demonstrates live 5G service over commercial network in Hyd

Bharti Airtel on Thursday said its network is 5G ready now as the telco successfully demonstrated live fifth generation service — with ultra high speeds — over a commercial network in Hyderabad city.

The move assumes significance as telcos are gearing up to leverage 5G as the next frontier for future growth to bolster revenues and provide stronger customer experience.

While the latest demonstration underscores the company’s technology capabilities for rolling out of fifth generation services in future, Airtel said the actual impact of 5G experience will be available to customers, “when adequate spectrum is available and government approvals are received”.

For the demo run, the company leveraged existing liberalised spectrum in the 1800 MHz band.