Bharti Airtel to leverage existing 4G network assets to offer 5G service

Telco to opt for non-standalone 5G network technology; capex requirement to reduce

Bharti Airtel has decided to leverage its existing 4G network assets to offer  5G network technology. The firm expects to launch commercial services across the country within four to five months of getting spectrum.  It expects the auctions to happen sometime at the end of this year or early next year.

Non-standalone (NSA) 5G is the first or interim stage in the evolution of 5G technology which enables telcos to use their existing 4G core — the nerve centre which controls  a network. The technology enables telcos to  amortise the investments made in 4G and leverage it across the 5G network,