Bharti Airtel has partnered with Nokia and Qualcomm to enhance 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Wi-Fi solutions, aiming to provide high-speed internet access to millions across India. Under this collaboration, Nokia will supply Airtel with its 5G Fixed Wireless Access outdoor gateway receiver and Wi-Fi 6 Access Point, utilizing Qualcomm’s Modem-RF and Wi-Fi 6 chipsets.
This initiative allows Airtel to offer reliable broadband services in areas where fiber connectivity is either limited or difficult to implement. With low fiber penetration and a growing demand for digital services, 5G FWA presents an effective solution to bridge connectivity gaps across the country.
Airtel will deploy Nokia’s FastMile 5G outdoor receivers, which can serve two households simultaneously, reducing connection costs. These receivers feature high-gain antennas, enhancing broadband access over long distances while efficiently managing radio resources. Additionally, they use Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology for easy installation on walls, balconies, or poles.
To improve in-home connectivity, Airtel will also implement Nokia’s Wi-Fi 6 access point, which provides intelligent mesh capabilities and self-optimizing network features, ensuring seamless broadband experiences for customers.
Nokia’s 5G Fixed Wireless Access and Wi-Fi 6 access point devices will be manufactured in India and packaged using fully recyclable materials.
Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating: “This collaboration with Nokia and Qualcomm underscores our dedication to delivering an exceptional network experience for our customers. We are confident that Nokia’s 5G Fixed Wireless Access and Wi-Fi 6 Access Point solutions will help provide high-speed internet to underserved areas and fulfil the need of a superior and uninterrupted broadband experience.”
Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks, Nokia, highlighted the role of FWA in addressing connectivity challenges in India: “India’s vast size and population density presents unique challenges for broadband connectivity. In those communities where fiber is difficult to deploy, FWA can be used to provide reliable wireless broadband connectivity. With our 5G FWA and Wi-Fi 6 solutions built in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Bharti Airtel will be able to provide customers with fiber-like speeds which are becoming essential in today’s digital economy. We look forward to supporting Bharti Airtel in its vision to connect more communities to high-speed broadband access.”
Rahul Patel, Group General Manager, Connectivity, Broadband & Networking, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., added: “We are excited to be part of this new generation of products by Bharti Airtel and Nokia which are designed to deliver optimized performance, coverage, and user experiences. 5G FWA combined with Wi-Fi 6 access point is ideal for connecting the unconnected, making it an extremely versatile solution for Indian homes and businesses.”
