Bharti Airtel’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, has confirmed that the company is no longer investing in expanding 4G capacity. Instead, its focus is now on scaling up 5G coverage and capacity. During the Q3 FY25 earnings call, Vittal stated that Airtel will continue deploying more 5G radios as the number of 5G-enabled devices on its network increases. However, since a large portion of India’s population still uses non-5G smartphones, the company is gradually expanding its 5G radio deployment based on demand. This strategy helps Airtel optimize capital expenditure (capex) and manage costs efficiently.
Looking ahead, Vittal mentioned that Airtel’s capex-to-revenue ratio will continue to decline. While revenue growth is expected, driven by the mobile and home broadband segments, capex requirements will moderate as the 5G rollout stabilizes. Airtel has already slowed its 5G infrastructure spending in FY25, having successfully deployed nationwide 5G coverage. Currently, Airtel’s 5G services are accessible to users on prepaid plans with 2GB daily data or more, as well as postpaid subscribers.
As of Q3 FY25, Airtel’s 5G user base stood at 120 million, representing subscribers who latched onto the 5G network at least once during the quarter. This number is expected to grow as more consumers adopt affordable 5G smartphones. With 5G chipset prices declining, smartphone manufacturers (OEMs) are now offering better-equipped and cost-effective 5G devices, further accelerating adoption.
Airtel aims to cater to the rising data consumption of its premium 5G subscribers, who typically generate higher revenue for the company. As 5G penetration deepens, Airtel remains committed to enhancing network performance and user experience.
