Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications providers, has announced a significant partnership with Ericsson to enhance its 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services across the country. This move marks a new chapter in a relationship that has spanned over 25 years and multiple generations of mobile technology, underscoring both companies’ commitment to driving India’s digital transformation.
As part of the agreement, Ericsson will deploy its advanced core network platform, including the innovative Local Packet Gateway (LPG), to support Airtel’s FWA rollout. This platform is engineered to deliver high-capacity, reliable connectivity with a smaller physical footprint and improved total cost of ownership. The solution builds on the earlier dual-mode 5G Core solution deal between the two companies, which laid the foundation for a unified, future-ready network infrastructure supporting Airtel’s transition to 5G Standalone (SA).
The deployment is strategically designed to address India’s rapidly increasing data consumption, ensuring robust performance and seamless connectivity even during peak demand periods. By enhancing Airtel’s core network capability and capacity, the partnership aims to elevate the customer experience for FWA users, offering high-speed internet access to homes and businesses in both urban and rural areas.
By expanding the reach of high-speed 5G connectivity, the partnership is set to empower millions of Indians, particularly in underserved regions, with access to digital services, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
The enhanced FWA capability will also support Airtel’s broader 5G monetization strategy. With the new platform, Airtel can offer differentiated, high-value services to consumers and enterprises, paving the way for new revenue streams and innovative applications in smart homes, IoT, and digital entertainment.
This latest agreement builds on a robust partnership that has already seen Ericsson manage Airtel’s pan-India network and support the operator’s evolution from 2G to 5G technologies. The collaboration reaffirms both companies’ shared vision to power India’s digital future and deliver world-class connectivity solutions to a wider audience.