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Bharti Airtel, one of India’s largest telcos, has introduced a 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) service called ‘Airtel Xstream AirFiber’. This service aims to provide high-speed internet to areas in the country that do not have access to fibre connectivity.

Airtel Xstream AirFiber is a plug-and-play solution that comes with built-in Wi-Fi 6 technology. Users can connect up to 64 devices simultaneously, and the initial plans offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Currently, only 34 million households out of a possible 303 million in India have access to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology. This means that millions of people are unable to access high-speed internet at home or work. The FWA solution offered by Airtel can be an alternative for these areas that have not yet received the fibre upgrade.

By eliminating the need for costly wired fibre installations, Airtel Xstream AirFiber provides flexibility and convenience to consumers.

Airtel plans to roll out the service in phases across the country, with Delhi and Mumbai being the first cities where Airtel 5G users will gain access. As the company’s 5G network rollout progresses, new locations will be added.

However, the economics of the FWA devices remain challenging, as they are twice the price of home-broadband routers, according to Managing Director Gopal Vittal.

Additionally, this new service will contribute to domestic manufacturing as Airtel plans to produce the units in India. This aligns with the government’s “Make in India” initiative, which aims to make India a global manufacturing hub and was launched in 2014.

With the launch of Airtel Xstream AirFiber, Airtel aims to bridge the gap in access to high-speed internet in India and provide a viable solution for areas without fibre connectivity.

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