Ericsson signs multi-year deal to manage Bharti Airtel’s network operations

Ericsson has signed a multi-year contract with Bharti Airtel to provide managed services for the telecom operator’s network across India. The agreement will see Ericsson manage Airtel’s network operations through a centralised Network Operations Center (NOC).

As part of the deal, Ericsson will oversee Airtel’s services across various technologies, including 4G, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), 5G Standalone (SA), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Private Networks, and Network Slicing. The operations will be driven by intent-based processes designed to enhance network efficiency and service management.

The agreement will allow Ericsson to manage Airtel’s network infrastructure across the country. It will also support the expansion of FWA and network slicing solutions to improve service coverage and capacity. 

“We believe that these innovative technologies will empower us to meet the growing data demands of consumers in a digitally connected India,” said Randeep Sekhon, CTO Bharti Airtel.

Andres Vicente, Head of Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, Ericsson, said, “By leveraging Intent-Based NOC Operations, we will enable Airtel to unlock wider service diversification to meet customer needs, thereby enabling new revenue opportunities for Airtel.”

The partnership between Airtel and Ericsson has been in place for over 25 years, covering multiple generations of mobile network technology. The companies recently worked together on deploying 5G Core solutions as Airtel continues its rollout of 5G services in India.