Guwahati, October 10 (MExN): Bharti Airtel’s 4G network now covers over 15863 towns and villages in Assam, a official release informed today. Airtel, the number 1 operator in Assam with over 8.4 million customers, recently announced a massive network expansion drive to further scale up its high speed data services across the region, stated the release. In addition, as part of its acquisition of Telenor’s India operations, Airtel has added 6 MHz of spectrum in 1800 MHz band to its portfolio in Assam and it will further boost 4G network capacity in the state, it added. To this end, Raveendra Desai, CEO, Assam and North East, Bharti Airtel said, “To bring more and more customers onto the digital highway, we are committed to further expanding our 4G services across Assam.” “The availability of budget friendly smartphones is driving a massive uptake of 4G data and Airtel aims to be the 4G network of choice of customers in Assam with its superior data experience,” he added. It is also planning plans and packs offer access to exciting digital services like music, movies, LIVE TV on mobile and we invite customers to experience our 4G network, Desai said, as per the release. All Airtel’s 4G customers enjoy free access to Airtel TV that offers over 10,000 movies and TV shows plus 375 LIVE TV channels on the go, it maintained. It further informed that Airtel offers the widest bouquet of mobile services (4G/3G/2G) in Assam and its network now covers 30,000 towns and villages representing approximately 94% of the state’s population. Special focus on Assam and North East Meanwhile, the company release further informed that as a part of its network transformation program - Project Leap, Airtel plans to roll out 6000 new mobile sites across the NE in FY 2018-19 with the aim of stepping up network capacity and taking services deeper into rural and unconnected areas. This rollout will effectively translate to deployment of 16 new Airtel mobile sites per day across the region and its presence will go up by 31%, it added. It also plans to deploy 3000 km of fresh optic fibre in the region to take its footprint to 16000 km. In December 2017, Airtel had signed an agreement with the Department of Telecom (Govt. of India) and Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of mobile services in identified uncovered villages and national highways in region. Under the agreement, Airtel will set up over 2000 mobile towers/sites in unconnected pockets of the region and deliver telecom connectivity to citizens in over 2100 villages over 18 months, informed the press release by its region Corporate Communication Satyajit Borah.
