Airtel 5G: Launch in India, 5G Speed Test, Availability Cities, Spectrum, and More

Here's everything we know about the Airtel 5G networks in India!

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Airtel 5G is finally here. The company has been aggressively introducing its 5G services across the country. It has already introduced its Airtel 5G Plus service in 30+ major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Lucknow, Patna, Guwahati, Shimla, Imphal, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Varanasi, Gurugram, Siliguri and more. The telecom operator has deployed 5G NSA (non-standalone) networks in these cities. So, if you are curious about the Airtel 5G networks, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will be talking about the Airtel 5G in detail, including its 5G internet speeds, where the brand has done 5G trials, and the latest news about Airtel 5G all in one place. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

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Table of Contents

Airtel 5G Launch in India

Airtel rolled out its official 5G services in India at the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022. The company has now rolled out the Airtel 5G Plus service across 30 cities across the country. The company has also revealed that it will roll out the services to other cities in the coming months. Airtel plans to cover pan India with its 5G services by 2024.

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Airtel 5G Internet Speed

Airtel claims that its 5G network speed is the fastest in the country. The company claims to deliver 1Gbps of internet speeds.

However, the real-world speed tests have indicated that the telecom operator currently provides around 500Mbps of speed and more in different cities. Airtel has promised its 5G speed to be 20 to 30 times more than the 4G

Moreover, Airtel also tested the 5G internet speeds in Hyderabad last year that delivered a whopping 3Gbps of peak internet speed in the 3500Mhz spectrum. The internet speed is three times faster than the 5G trials conducted by Reliance Jio. Simply put, once the Airtel 5G networks are launched in India, users will be able to download a full-length 4K movie in a matter of seconds.

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Airtel 5G: List of Available Cities

Airtel has currently rolled out its Airtel 5G Plus services in 30 cities, covering different states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and more. Here’s the complete list:

Andhra Pradesh

  • Vizag
  • Tirumala
  • Vijayawada
  • Rajahmundry
  • Kakinada
  • Kurnool
  • Guntur
  • Tirupati

Gujarat

  • Ahmedabad
  • Gandhinagar

Rajasthan

  • Jaipur
  • Udaipur
  • Kota

Karnataka

  • Bengaluru

Kerala

  • Kochi

Madhya Pradesh

  • Indore
  • Bhopal

Maharashtra

  • Mumbai
  • Pune
  • Nagpur

Odisha

  • Bhubaneshwar
  • Cuttack
  • Rourkela

Tamil Nadu

  • Chennai

Telangana

  • Hyderabad

Uttar Pradesh

  • Varanasi
  • Lucknow
  • Agra
  • Meerut
  • Gorakhpur
  • Kanpur
  • Prayagraj
  • Noida
  • Ghaziabad
  • Agra
  • Meerut
  • Gorakhpur
  • Kanpur
  • Prayagraj

West Bengal

  • Siliguri

Haryana

  • Panipat
  • Gurugram
  • Hissar
  • Rohtak
  • Faridabad
  • Ambala
  • Karnal
  • Sonipat
  • Yamunanagar
  • Bahadurgarh

Himachal Pradesh

  • Shimla

Bihar

  • Patna

Assam

  • Guwahati

UTs

  • Delhi
  • Chandigarh

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Airtel 5G Spectrum

Airtel has confirmed that it has bid and acquired 9867.8 MHZ spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz frequencies. The company will be deploying its 5G network using this spectrum. Previously, the operator was allotted 3,5000MHz bands to conduct 5G trials in the country. The telecom operator also conducted a 5G trial using the 1,800MHz band in Hyderabad. Moreover, it is reported that the operator equipment is compatible with 2100/2300MHz and sub-GHz bands (800/900 MHz). The company has also made it clear that it can upgrade its 4G networks to 5G to deliver a faster rollout of the network across the country once the spectrum is allocated.

Airtel 5G Latest News

Airtel Rolls out 5G Plus Services in 125 Cities in India (March 09, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has confirmed that it has rolled out its 5G services in 125 cities in India. With this, the Airtel 5G Plus service is now available to customers in over 265 cities in the country. The brand claims that the 5G services are now available in every major city from the upper northern city of Jammu to the southern tip of Kanyakumari.

Airtel Launches its 5G Plus Services in 5 Cities of Haryana (February 14, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it has recently rolled out its 5G services in five cities of Haryana. The company has rolled out the services in Ambala, Karnal, Sonipat, Yamunanagar, and Bahadurgarh.

Airtel Introduces its 5G Plus Services in Six Cities of Andhra Pradesh (February 01, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it has rolled out 5G services in six different cities of Andhra Pradesh. The brand has revealed that the services are now live at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Kurnool, Guntur and Tirupati.

Airtel Introduces its 5G Plus Services in 11 Cities in India (January 19, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has introduced its 5G services in different cities in India. The telecom operator has rolled out its 5G services in Agra, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, the company has rolled out its services in Jaipur, Udaipur, and Kota in Rajasthan. Lastly, it has also rolled out the services in Faridabad area.

Airtel 5G Plus Service Goes Live in Kochi (January 12, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has rolled out its 5G services in Kochi. The telecom operator has confirmed that the 5G services are now available at Kadavanthara, Panampilly Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Kaloor, Kacheripady, Elamakkara, Ernakulam Town Hall, Ernakulam KSRTC Junction, MG Road/Maharaja’s College Grounds, Edapally, Palarivattom NH, Vyttila, Chilavanur, Thoppumpady, Ravipuram and a few other locations. With this, Airtel customers will be able to use 5G services at no additional cost.

Airtel Launches its 5G Services in Indore (January 04, 2023)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it is rolling out its Airtel 5G Plus services in Indore. The telecom operator has revealed that Airtel users can enjoy 5G services without any additional cost. The service is currently live in Vijay Nagar, Rasoma chowk, Bombay Hospital Square, Radisson square, Khajrana area, Sadar Bazaar, Gita Bhawan, Panchsheel Nagar, Abhinandan Nagar, Patrakar colony, Yeshwant road, Phoenix Citadel mall and few other select locations.

Airtel 5G Plus Service Goes Live in Pune (December 26, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has rolled out its 5G services in Pune. The telecom operator has confirmed that the 5G services are now available at Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Baner, Hinjewadi, Magarpatta, Hadapsar, Kharadi, Model Colony, Swargate, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and other places. With this, Airtel customers will be able to use 5G services at no additional cost.

Airtel Launches 5G Plus Service in Shimla (December 21, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has announced its 5G services in Shimla. The operator has announced that the Airtel 5G Plus service is available in different parts of Shimla. The list includes Mall Road, Sanjoli, Dhalli, BhattaKufar, Ridge and Sanjoli Helipad Area and a few other select locations.

Airtel Introduces its 5G Plus Service in Lucknow and Hyderabad (December 16, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it has started rolling out 5G Plus services in two major cities, Lucknow and Hyderabad. Starting with Lucknow, the operator has rolled out the 5G services in different parts, including Jankipuram, Alambagh, Vikas Nagar, Gomti Nagar, Hazratganj, Aliganj, Aishbagh, Rajajipuram, and Aminabad. Moving on, the company has also rolled out 5G Plus services in Hyderabad as well. The brand says that customers can enjoy 5G services in Hyderabad Metro Rail, Imlibun bus depot, and Secunderabad & Kacheguda railway stations. Apart from this, the 5G services are also available in Begumpet, Banjara Hills, Jubilee hills, Hi-tech City, Gachibowli, Bowenplly, Kompally, RTC Cross Roads, Koti, Malakpet, Charminar, Habsiguda, Uppal, Nagole, Kupatpally, Miyapur, and more.

Govt Asked Airtel to Not Setup 5G Network Services Near Airports (December 05, 2022)

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked Bharti Airtel not to install the 5G base stations near airports. “The telecom service providers (TSPs) are advised that in the area 2,100 metres from both ends of the runway and 910 metres from the centre line of the runway of Indian Airports shall have no 5G/ IMT base stations in the 3,300-3,670 MHz,” the official letter by DoT reads.”

Bharti Airtel 5G Services Rolled Out in Patna: Here are the Areas Covered (November 28, 2022)

Airtel has rolled out 5G services in the key areas of Patna. Among areas that are currently operational include Patna Sahib Gurudwara, Patna Railway Station, Dak Bungalow, Maurya Lok, Bailey Road, Boring Road, City Center Mall, Patliputra Industrial Area, and a few other select locations.

Airtel Launches 5G Services at Pune Airport (November 17, 2022)

Airtel today rolled out the 5G services in Pune. Currently, the services can be used only at Pune Lohegaon Airport which the company plans to extend across the city further.

Apple Rolls out iOS 16.2 Beta Update with 5G Support for Airtel Users (November 10, 2022)

Apple has rolled out the iOS 16.2 Beta update to its range of iPhones that, brings 5G support for Airtel users. The new beta update brings the option for its customers to choose between 4G and 5G networks.

Airtel 5G Plus Services Now Available at Bangalore Airport for Flyers (November 04, 2022)

Airtel has now made its 5G services at the Kempegowda International Airport. The telecom operator claimed to be the first to offer 5G network access at the Kempegowda International Airport ahead of its formal inauguration.

Airtel Selects Aviat Networks to Get 5G Radios (November 01, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has partnered with Austin-based company Aviat Networks to provide 5G multiband radios to the operator. Under the partnership, the Airtel will deploy Aviat’s all-outdoor WTM 4800 E-Band and Multi-Band solutions, which will help the operator to maximise its 5G networks across the country.

Airtel to Take Oracle’s Help to Roll out 5G Services in India (October 25, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has recently announced its 5G services in select cities. However, the operator is now looking to roll out the services across the country. For this, the company is taking help from cloud major Oracle to help roll out the Airtel 5G Plus services in a phased manner. Prasad Rai, Vice President of the Global Strategic Clients Group at Oracle India, told IANS that the company is working closely with Airtel to modernise its organisation, which will help in a smooth transition from 4G to 5G.

Airtel to Meet Apple for Rolling out Software Update to its iPhones for Airtel 5G (October 11, 2022)

Bharti Airtel is reportedly planning to meet Apple senior executives this week to discuss the rollout timeline for 5G-enabled iPhones. Currently, the iPhone 12 and later models are 5G compatible, though Apple has not activated the service for the Indian market. As per a report by ET Telecom, senior executives from Apple and Bharti Airtel will meet this week to discuss the rollout timeline for the software updates to iPhone 12 and above model.

Airtel Might Offer a Differential Pricing Scheme for High-Paying Customers in India (October 3, 2022)

Bharti Airtel is reportedly planning to introduce a differential pricing scheme for its high-paying customers. As per a report by Businessline, the company is planning to introduce special plans for 5G to high-paying customers that will offer superior and distinct services. The report further mentions that the operator is planning to release the tariff plans for 5G in the next few days.

Bharti Airtel Launches 5G Services in 8 Cities at IMC 2022 (October 1, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it is rolling out its 5G services in India at the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022. The company has revealed that it is the first operator to roll out 5G services in the country. Moreover, the company has revealed that the 5G services from Airtel will be available in eight cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore and more. Airtel will roll out 5G services in several cities across the country by March 2023 and across India by March 2024. As of now, the 5G services will be available at existing 4G rates and the brand might introduce new tariff for 5G after some time.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Airtel 5G services in India at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022 (September 29, 2022)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to officially launch the 5G services in India on October 1st. He will inaugurate the 5G mobile services for Airtel and Reliance Jio at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2022. According to a report by Hindu Businessline, the 5G services of Airtel and Jio will be the first ones to get launched by the Prime Minister. Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal recently revealed that it would commence the launch of 5G services within a few weeks.

Airtel Partners with IBM to Roll out 5G-Enabled Edge Cloud Services to Indian Enterprises (September 15, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has revealed that it has partnered with IBM to deploy Airtel’s edge computing platform in India. The new Edge computing platform will include 120 network data centres across 20 cities in the country. The centres will allow enterprises across multiple industries to use 5G services for innovative solutions.

Airtel to Launch its 5G Services in India by October (August 26, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it will launch its 5G services in India in the month of October. Sunil Bharti Mittal, during Business Today India@100 Summit, revealed that the company is looking to launch its 5G services from October.

Bharti Airtel May Charge a Premium for its 5G Services, To offer it with High-Priced Tariff Plans (August 22, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has announced that it will not charge any premium for its 5G services in India. The company has revealed that it will offer 5G services to users with its new range of high-priced tariff plans. As per a report by the Mint, Akhil Gupta, vice-chairman of parent Bharti Enterprises, said in an interview stating that this will prompt users to upgrade.

Bharti Airtel Pays Rs 8,312 Crore to DoT as Spectrum Payment (August 18, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 8,312 crore to the Department of Telecom (DoT) as the dues for the 5G spectrum acquired by the company during the recent auction. The company has claimed that it has paid four spectrum dues upfront, which will free up cash flows to focus on the 5G rollout. The company has also revealed that it has cleared Rs 24,333.7 crores of its deferred spectrum liabilities in the last year, much ahead of the scheduled maturities.

Airtel Plans to Roll out Pan-India 5G Coverage by March 2024 in India (August 12, 2022)

Bharti Airtel is planning to introduce the 5G services across the country by March 2024. Gopal Vittal, Airtel CEO and Managing Director, revealed during an analysts call that the company will roll out pan-India 5G coverage to cover 5,000 towns and cities by March 2024.

Airtel to Roll Out its 5G Services in India From August 2022 (August 03, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has confirmed that it will be rolling out its 5G services in India starting from August 2022. So you can activate windows free. The company has signed 5G network agreements with Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung to commence 5G deployment in the country. The department of Telecom in India recently conducted 5G spectrum auctions, where Airtel bid for and acquired 19867.8 MHZ spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz frequency.

Airtel Showcased 8K Streaming, Connected Factory in 5G SA in Bengal (April 26, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has demonstrated yet another 5G trial in India. The telecom operator conducted cloud gaming and 8K video streaming on a 5G smartphone along with other things at Bengal Global Trade Expo 2022. As per a report by ET Telecom, the company claims that the demonstration was done using Standalone mode in the 3.4-3.5GHz band trial spectrum, which is allocated by the government for 5G trials. The company also showed connected factory demos with automated manufacturing and quality inspection using 5G networks.

Airtel Showcases India’s First 5G Hologram Interaction, Recreates Kapil Dev’s 175 run From 1983 World Cup (March 25, 2022)

Bharti Airtel has showcased the 5G speed and low latency capabilities for an immersive video entertainment experience. The brand recreated Kapil Dev’s famous 175 runs during the 1983 World Cup in 4K mode. The company claims that it achieved speeds of over 1Gbps and latency of under 20ms. There were more than 50 concurrent users that watched the 4K video on 5G smartphones. The match provided real-time access to multiple camera angles, 360-degree in-stadia view, shot analysis and stats.

The company also showcased India’s first 5G-powered hologram interaction with Kapil Dev. The company says that Kapil Dev’s virtual avatar appeared on the stage to interact with fans in real-time using airtel 5G networks. The company conducted the demo at its Network Experience Center in Manesar (Gurugram) using Ericsson 5G Radio in NSA and SA modes over 3500 MHz band test spectrum allotted by the Department of Telecom, Government of India.

Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea warns of Shortage of 5G Smartphones in India (March 21, 2022)

Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea have told the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) that consumers may face a sharp shortage of 5G mobiles phones if the government move to test and certify all 5G smartphones, as per a report by ET. The operators have told the DoT that the move will hit data consumption, restrict market access and will make it difficult for customers to buy new 5G smartphones.

Airtel MD Gopal Vittal Wants E-band airwaves to be Bundled (February 24, 2022)

Bharti Airtel MD Gopal Vittal has called on the government to bundle the E band airwaves with a 5G spectrum. Vittal said that if the government fails to bundle the E band airwaves with a 5G spectrum, this could jeopardise India’s 5G network, reported Economics Times. He also added that government should make the 700 MHz band for free. “One of the ideas I would like to propose is to actually take a particular spectrum band, let’s say 700 Mhz, and allocate that with very, very stringent obligations to connect the entire country, but do it free of cost,” Vittal said.