Bharti Airtel and Ericsson have strengthened their long-standing collaboration with a new agreement to deploy Ericsson’s 5G Core network solutions in India. Announced on February 25, this initiative will accelerate Airtel’s transition to a full-scale 5G Standalone (SA) network, enhancing connectivity for millions of customers and enterprises.
#Airtel is embarking on an exciting new chapter with @ericsson. Through this exclusive partnership, Ericsson will support Airtel with its advanced 5G core solutions, enabling a seamless transition to 5G standalone. This move will enhance Airtel's network capacity and deliver…
— Bharti Airtel (@airtelnews) February 25, 2025
Airtel’s 5G Monetization Strategy
Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core will enable Airtel to expand network capacity, implement network slicing, and unlock new monetization opportunities through API exposure. As part of the partnership, Ericsson will also deploy its Signaling Controller and 5G SA-enabled Charging and Policy solutions, strengthening Airtel’s 5G revenue strategy.
Airtel’s CTO stated “This rollout will be a key component of Airtel’s long-term 5G strategy, enhancing network capacity and enabling the delivery of innovative, differentiated services to customers.”
Ericsson’s Head of Market Area for Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India added “This deployment is a major step toward making Bharti Airtel’s network 5G Standalone-ready and future-proof. Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core enables monetization through network slicing and API exposure, unlocking new and innovative use cases for consumers and enterprises.”
A Partnership Spanning 25 Years
In a joint statement, the companies highlighted their long-standing relationship “Ericsson has been a trusted connectivity partner of Bharti Airtel for over 25 years, supporting every generation of mobile communications, including the award of Airtel’s first 5G contract in India.”
