We believe a society that is more technologically integrated is naturally more progressive. We are committed to providing our customers a brilliant network experience; and as a part of that commitment, we are continuing our investments to build an all-encompassing future-ready network with speed and precision.
The total investment commitment for the project is to the tune of ` 60,000+ crore. The phased rollout of the project entails meticulous planning and smart execution. We are driven by the aspiration to be the most preferred smartphone network; and a compelling choice for customers across multiple attributes of coverage, capacity and network experience.
During the year, the execution of Project Leap required a seamless partnership with vendors. Most of the sites planned were mobile broadband sites and required robust internet backbone through optical fiber. The entire spectrum of activity, including radio and transport planning, installation, fiber availability, media readiness had to be done in a very closely coordinated manner across India.
Every city and circle was divided into small clusters, implementing a targeted approach for every cluster. With focused teamwork and real-time course correction, we could roll out 180,000 sites in two years, thereby doubling our network.
90,000 sites
Deployed 90,000 sites
(80% of these sites were highspeed broadband sites)
Broadband
7,600 towns
460,000 villages
Rolled out high-speed broadband across 7,600 towns and 460,000 villages
4G
Launched 4G services in all circles
Fiber Backbone
Created a powerful backbone for data and internet services in addition to voice with 40,000+ kilometre of incremental fiber rolled out last year, leading to over 450,000 km of domestic and international fiber
3G
71% population
Launched 3G in all circles, spanning over 71% of the population
Platinum 3G
Launched platinum 3G on 900 MHz in Mumbai, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, North East States and Assam, Karnataka and Punjab for world-class indoor experience
Upgrades
Modernised existing networks, replacing the legacy equipment with smaller, better and more efficient new equipment
Transport Network
Facilitated extensive upgrade of the transport network with IP-fication of over 50% of regional network and forklifting the capabilities to 100 Gbps carriage; this ensured that multi-fold growth of traffic from both business and retail customers is handled with ease
This mega investment on network and focus on cluster-wise network quality has helped Airtel to create a best-in-class customer experience. Ookla, the global leader in broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications, has rated Airtel as India’s fastest mobile network. Ookla’s findings are based on an analysis of millions of internet speed tests logged on ‘modern devices’ by mobile customers across India, using its popular Speedtest app. The results include all mobile tests, regardless of connection technology.
Airtel network has now become truly heterogeneous. From the convergence of two technologies and three layers, we have moved to four technologies and six layers, making the network very complex.
As customers now have to traverse across technologies and layers, maintaining and improving the network experience becomes a challenge. To tackle this, Airtel focuses on real-time optimisation through Self Optimisation Network (SON) and Geo analytical tools.
Deployment of Self Optimisation Network (SON) enabled automation of network optimisation to ensure availability of resources as per user demand. It has enabled dynamic configuration of the network for seamless handovers in 3G and 2G network, thus enhancing the customer experience significantly.
Real-time balancing of network load across congested and noncongested sites have reduced overloading, thus improving user throughputs and blocking the network. Real time optimisation has improved network utilisation, thus improving efficiency of the available spectrum and network capacity.
Geo analytical tools have enabled us to pioneer customer demand centric network planning and densification by getting visibility of the network consumption on granular 50m x 50m grid. It has helped ensure the deployment of new sites, small cells in corridors of high consumption, thus improving efficiency of new deployments.
Airtel has been the first to launch the Open Network initiative to empower our customers and make them part of the journey. Through this initiative, the entire network information, including coverage, site details and signal strength is being made available to customers. Any customer can get information about signal quality in his/her area; and the sites he/she is served from. Customers can also log a complaint, which is based on their geographic location. This portal also enables customers to help Airtel with leads to erect towers.
Airtel has embarked upon a journey of continuous improvement of network quality, driven by customer perception. The entire country has been divided into small clusters with clear owners. The focus has shifted from reactive to proactive performance management. This approach to network quality has led to the reduction of call drops, blocking and slow browsing.
We rolled out V-Fiber technology, offering super-fast internet services during 2016-17. V-Fiber is based on Vectorisation – Europe’s No. 1 fixed broadband technology – and will deliver speeds of up to 100 Mbps. V-Fiber is a unique combination of fiber and Vectorisation technology that delivers super-fast speed. This translates into faster downloads, less buffering, and an ultra-reliable Wi-Fi connection for all devices in your home.
This is a green technology and there is no new wiring or drilling required at an existing customer’s premises. One simply needs to upgrade to a new ‘V-Fiber’ modem.
New-age homes are smarter. Like the city, homes are being reshaped by future-ready networks and a plethora of connected objects. At Airtel, we are leading the way. Come in for a visit to see for yourself. If, by any chance, you are out of home, you still have more freedom with Airtel.
Airtel’s ‘myHome Rewards’ programme provides free additional data benefit of 5GB per month for every other Airtel service connection – postpaid mobile or digital TV (DTH) – within the home or family. Customers can avail this exciting offer for their existing as well as new Airtel postpaid mobile and digital TV connections. Therefore, if an Airtel broadband home has two Airtel postpaid mobiles and one Airtel digital TV connection, then 15 GB free additional data will be added to their broadband account every month.
Growing broadband penetration is driving the popularity of online content, particularly in urban homes. Video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HotStar have brought about a paradigm shift in how people watch television. Media industry experts say that even consumers who watch online content want to watch it on the big screen; while web content is popular, a big screen is desirable.
Hence, we rolled out India’s first Hybrid DTH Set-top box, powered by Android TV. It brings the best of online entertainment to the TV screen, along with a bouquet of 500+ satellite TV channels.
Airtel ‘Internet TV’ transforms any TV into a Smart TV and enables users to switch seamlessly between online and linear TV content. ‘Internet TV’ comes with inbuilt-Wi-Fi receiver, and blue tooth remote with Google voice search feature. It also supports Play-Pause Live TV, USB media playback, and has built-in chromecast functionality. Gaming enthusiasts can make the most of the internet TV with the best of gaming apps for an experience that is truly larger than life.
With this innovative product, we have established a new product category in media and entertainment industry. Airtel Internet TV is a product for digital homes; and it would help both DTH and broadband business to offer differentiated services to our customers. We have a unique opportunity to shape this new category and establish ourselves as pioneers.
At Airtel, we are providing free national roaming service from April 1 2017. Airtel customers roaming within India will enjoy free incoming calls or SMSes; and there will be no premium on outgoing calls, allowing them to speak freely, wherever they are within the country. Also, there will be no additional data charges on national roaming.
We also launched our new International Roaming (IR) packs that strengthen the value proposition for customers travelling abroad. With the new IR packs, customers will have the convenience of carrying their mobile number of India wherever they go and stay connected 24x7 without having to worry about high call and data charges. The packs will be available to both postpaid and prepaid customers.
Our new IR packs offer free incoming calls, free texts to India and ample data benefits, along with free India calling minutes across popular destinations. Now customers do not have to think twice before taking calls or calling their loved ones back home from their Airtel mobile when travelling overseas.
The nature of our business puts us in the heart of the digital revolution that is transforming enterprises and daily lives of customers. Our role is to be a trusted partner in this entire universe of change. We offer powerful networks, specialised applications and efficient collaborative work tools, all backed by proven cybersecurity expertise.
Our global business, the international arm of Airtel Business, offers an integrated suite of global and local voice, data, cloud and digital solutions to a wide range of customers globally. Airtel Global Business is engineered for speed and dedicated to delivering tailored solutions for our customers. This remarkable outcome is the result of operating with agility, transparency and execution excellence. We help our customers operate efficiently and serve their customers better, connecting their people, locations and machines securely and reliably.
Global partnerships and geographic footprint: More than 1200 leading global carriers repose their trust in us. Supporting these large companies takes strong benchmarked processes, a seamless network and a team qualified to serve across borders, languages and varied infrastructure. Our global network runs across 250,000 Rkms, touching 50 countries and 5 continents. This year we took a step further to our commitment of providing seamless network globally by adding new Point of Presence (PoPs) in Oman, South Africa, and Kenya. These locations are strategically aligned to our long-term goals; and we look forward to further strengthening our global footprint.
Leveraging emerging markets: We are connecting India’s neighbouring emerging markets of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Pakistan with Myanmar as the latest destination in the series, via high capacity terrestrial networks. We now carry an estimated 50% of the data requirement in the growth markets of SAARC region, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. We serve a combined population of over 270 million; and making India an IP hub in the region. All the strategic investment in the region has led to successfully devising flexible and effective commercial programmes for network. In addition, this has ensured better latency and stronger resiliency in connecting these markets to regional networks.
New and diverse range of offerings include but not limited to:
