Bharti Airtel has selected Nokia’s CloudBand-based software products for its VoLTE (Voice over LTE) network in India.
The network supports over 110 million customers, covering all of India’s 22 telecom circles, making it the largest cloud-based VoLTE network in India and the largest Nokia-run VoLTE in the world.
The deployment allows Airtel to provide its mobile customers faster and more reliable call connectivity. The solution uses Commercial Off-the-Shelf IT hardware with cloud-based Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), which consumes much less power and space compared to the traditional 2G/3G Circuit Switched legacy core.
Nokia’s VoLTE solution enables Airtel to wind down its 3G network in order to free up spectrum which can then be used to deploy 4G/LTE services for better speed and capacity.
As part of its cloudification strategy, Airtel will also deploy Nokia’s CloudBand Infrastructure Software with the aim to create new revenue opportunities for 5G and internet-connected devices. As a vendor-agnostic, multi-technology and multi-domain platform, CloudBand will enable Airtel to lay the foundation for 5G networks and deliver new digital services with greater ease, flexibility and agility and ensure a reliable and high-performing network for delivering improved customer experience.
Nokia multi-cloud management solutions with analytical capabilities will also simplify operations for Airtel and allow the operator to design a network architecture that suits its needs and deliver new capabilities across mobility, enterprise, and telemedia business lines for its customers.
Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, said: “Our objective is to reap the benefits of cloud solutions to simplify our architecture and enable faster delivery of innovative services, ultimately delivering an enhanced customer experience.”
Bhaskar Gorti, President of Nokia Software and Nokia Chief Digital Officer, said: “Nokia’s carrier-grade cloud software solutions drive simplicity and flexibility and will further strengthen Airtel’s solid 5G network foundation and transition to innovative digital solutions that are customer and experience centric.”
