Bharti Airtel, India’s top telecom provider, introduced its second 3G carrier in Delhi, more than doubling the speed of the existing network for most smartphones.
Not only has the company introduced a second ‘carrier’ (block of spectrum) adjacent to the first one, it has also implemented the technology to merge the two blocks into one, thus boosting download and upload speeds.
The merging technology, called dual carrier HSPC or DC-HSPA, is already found in most smartphones and most 3G users will be able to take advantage of the superior speeds offered by the new network.
Airtel is also known to be considering the introduction of a third carrier for 3G as well, using the 900 MHz spectrum. Idea is already using 900 MHz spectrum in Delhi for 3G. 900 MHz spectrum has better propagation inside buildings and offers more robust signals.
However, for now, both carriers are on 2100 MHz.
“The highlight of ‘Dual Carrier’ technology deployment is that customers will be able to enjoy 4G like data speeds even when they are on the 3G. The technology will also help in optimising the backend engagement between the network and mobile devices, enabling customers to enjoy extended battery life on their mobile devices. With this deployment, Airtel will now offer the widest 4G experience across Delhi-NCR,” Airtel said.
Ravindra Singh Negi, CEO – Delhi/NCR, Bharti Airtel said, “Airtel has consistently set the benchmark, when it comes to deployment of latest technology to improve customer experience. With ‘Dual Carrier’ technology, we will be able to deliver a seamless 4G experience across NCR. We would like to thank our customers for their cooperation during the network upgrade and invite them to experience our network.”
Airtel is the largest mobile operator in Delhi NCR with 11.43 million customers and offers 4G, 3G and 2G services in the Capital city.
As part of Project Leap, Airtel has been deploying state-of-the-art technology solutions for better indoor coverage and network optimization; overhauling legacy networks with new equipment and making investments in additional spectrum and fiber to significantly improving its network capabilities across the country since last year.
Airtel was also the first operator in the country to deploy ‘Carrier Aggregation’ technology that combines capacities of spectrum in 2300 MHz (TD-LTE) and 1800 MHz (FD-LTE) and delivers data speeds on up to 135 Mbps with compatible handsets.