Airtel Business, the business arm of Indian telco Bharti Airtel, has outlined a strong demand for private 5G services from its enterprise customers.
Airtel, which first launched its 5G network in October 2022, now has more than 90 million customers on its 5G network across the country.
Alok Shukla, SVP, of data products and business solutions, Airtel Business told DCD that the company has seen a lot of demand for 5G services from its enterprise customers.
"Since launching 5G, we have observed significant demand from our enterprise customers for solutions that harness this technology's full potential," said Shukla.
"Customers are keen on how 5G can enhance their digital transformation efforts, from boosting operational efficiency to developing new business models."
He noted that the requests include ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) for critical applications, massive machine-type communications (mMTC) for IoT devices, and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) for high-speed data needs.
Shukla added that the carrier is deploying private 5G networks for the enterprise aimed at applications such as smart factories and autonomous vehicles.
"Many industries are seeking customized solutions, such as Private 5G networks, tailored to their operational requirements," explained Shukla.
"Our Private 5G networks enable applications such as smart factories, autonomous vehicles, and real-time quality control. These solutions help businesses optimize operations, reduce costs, and increase productivity. For instance, smart factories gain from automation and robotics, while logistics improve accuracy through better inventory management and asset tracking."
He said he expects this to support a number of industries, including agriculture, which is a key industry in India, plus healthcare and manufacturing.
Shukla also revealed to DCD that Airtel is actively testing end-to-end network slicing.
Network slicing allows telecom operators to create separate and isolated networks for different use cases, while the slice can be configured differently. This method is underpinned by Standalone 5G.
"This technology creates multiple virtual networks within a single physical 5G infrastructure, each customized to meet the specific needs of industries like healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing," he said, noting that the technology will create new business model innovations and diverse applications across sectors.
Earlier this month, Airtel signed a multi-billion 5G contract with network vendor Ericsson as part of plans to bolster Airtel's 5G network across India.
