Airtel to shut entire 3G network by March

Bharti Airtel has said that it will shut its 3G services across India within this financial year.

The process has already been initiated in Kolkata – the first circle in the country where the company started its 4G services. “By September, 3G will be shut in 6-7 more circles,” a senior executive of the company said.

He added: “Between December and March, it will be shut in the entire country.” The company said it is seeing customers moving from 2G to 4G directly.

“We see an upgrade from people, from 2G to 4G. On the overall spectrum, we will have only 2G and 4G by April 2020. All our spectrum are on 4G other than the administered spectrum, which is on 2G, and that can be worked out based on the spectrum holdings we have,” said Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel, in a post earnings call with analysts on Friday.