The telco is deploying state-of-the-art L900 technology in the 900 MHz band to complement its 4G services in the 2300 Mhz and 1800 Mhz bands.
NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel said switched off its 3G network in Kolkata and has refarmed the 900 MHz band spectrum to further strengthen its 4G network. This is one of the first phase-outs of 3G technology globally.
Airtel mobile broadband services in the city will now be available on high-speed 4G. The telco is deploying state-of-the-art L900 technology in the 900 MHz band to complement its 4G services in the 2300 Mhz and 1800 Mhz bands.
With L900, Airtel smartphone customers will enjoy improved 4G availability inside buildings – homes, offices, and malls. It will also result in wider availability of Airtel 4G and superior network experience across Kolkata.
Randeep Sekhon, CTO – Bharti Airtel said: “This is in line with our stated strategy of focusing on serving quality customers with best-in-class service experience. Going forward, we plan to re-farm all of our 3G spectrum across India and deploy it for 4G in a phased manner. Also, it complements the smartphone ecosystem, which has now gravitated overwhelmingly towards 4G only devices.”
Airtel said will continue to provide 2G services in Kolkata to serve the connectivity needs of customers on feature phones.
All customers on 3G were duly notified and requested to upgrade their handsets/SIMs to continue enjoying best-in-class smartphone experience. 3G customers who are yet to upgrade their handsets/SIMs will continue to get access to high-quality voice services.
