Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom company, is gearing up to introduce an upgraded variant of its Xstream AirFiber, a fixed wireless access (FWA) service that will cater to both indoor and outdoor environments. According to a company representative, extensive testing for the outdoor unit solution has been completed, and a nationwide launch will be announced in the near future.
In August, Airtel unveiled the Xstream AirFiber, a wireless home Wi-Fi service tailored for 5G customers in Delhi and Mumbai. All Xstream AirFiber devices will be manufactured locally as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. An informed executive stated, “Testing is currently underway in some key markets for the outdoor solution, which will be launched soon.”
The upgraded solution will comprise two units – one for indoor and one for outdoor use – strategically positioned to provide comprehensive coverage throughout a building or premises. The demand for home Wi-Fi coverage has surged over the past 3-4 years, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fiber-to-home connections have reached only about 34 million homes in the country, leaving many individuals in need of broadband access.
When launching its AirFiber services, Airtel emphasized that the 5G wireless Wi-Fi solution would extend internet access to consumers in areas lacking fiber infrastructure. It aimed to address the last-mile connectivity challenge in both rural and urban India. Xstream AirFiber is a plug-and-play device equipped with built-in Wi-Fi 6 technology, offering extensive indoor coverage and supporting up to 64 connected devices.
The service is available through a Rs 799 plan, delivering speeds of up to 100 Mbps for a six-month duration, with a one-time refundable security deposit of Rs 2,500. The upgraded AirFiber version is expected to be competitively priced, although final pricing details have yet to be disclosed.
