Airtel's multi-pronged 4G strategy: Bharti steps up spending, to shut 3G

Airtel will use 2100 megahertz band, which is used for 3G services, for 4G services

With 4G service increasingly defining the mobile ecosystem across the country, telecom major Bharti Airtel is likely to bring down the curtains on its 3G service in the next 3-4 years. The company also raised its estimate of capital expenditure for FY18 to Rs 25,000 crore, from the earlier Rs 20,000 crore to expand and strengthen its 4G network. Besides that Airtel would also transfer the optical fibre business to its wholly-owned subsidiary Telesonic Networks for a valuation of up to Rs 5,650 crore, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

Nilanjan Roy, its global finance head, said as there