Bharti Airtel Gives Network Operations Center Contract to Ericsson
By Ankur Chandra | Published at: Jun 9, 2025 03:23 PM IST
New Delhi, June 9, 2025 – Bharti Airtel Ltd (NSE: BHARTIARTL | BSE: 532454) has roped in Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) for a major multi-year Network Operations Center (NOC) Managed Services, thereby effectively taking their 25-year partnership to the next level. This will be a major step in improving India’s digital connectivity in the AI-powered era. Bharti Airtel is one of the largest telecom companies in India, and Ericsson has been powering connectivity for the country for the past 120 years.
Bharti Airtel’s share was up by 1.47% during the previous week.
Strategic Agreement Overview
This shall be a long-term engagement, and Ericsson is expected to handle end-to-end operations of Airtel’s pan-India networks. This include 4G, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), 5G Standalone (SA), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Private Networks, and Network Slicing—through a centralized intent-based NOC.
The collaboration is aimed at being scalable, improving the automation quality and providing service agility. As Airtel’s digital transformation is helping connect even the remotest parts of the country, Ericsson’s AI-powered and intent-based operations framework will aim to optimize service delivery.
“We are excited to enhance our strong collaboration with Ericsson as we pursue our goal of creating a future-ready network that delivers an exceptional experience for our customers,” said Randeep Sekhon, CTO, Bharti Airtel.
“By leveraging Intent-Based NOC Operations, we will enable Airtel to unlock wider service diversification to meet customer needs, thereby enabling new revenue opportunities,” added Andres Vicente, Head of Market Area Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, Ericsson.
Technological Scope of the Partnership
| Managed Services Coverage | Technology/Segment |
|---|---|
| Core NOC Operations | Centralized, Intent-Based AI-Driven |
| Mobile Networks | 4G, 5G NSA, 5G SA |
| Fixed Line Services | Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) |
| Enterprise Network Enablement | Private Networks, Network Slicing |
| Scalability Focus | Pan-India rollouts and nationwide NOC |
Strategic Significance
- AI-led Operations: This deal will be critical to improving Bharti Airtel’s operational efficiency through intent-based, data-driven network management.
- Scalable Expansion: It also prepares the ground for rapid scaling up of next-gen services like FWA and Network Slicing, which are essential for enterprise and retail segment growth.
- Innovation Continuity: The agreement comes shortly after the Airtel-Ericsson 5G Core collaboration and signals continued innovation momentum in the telco space.
About Bharti Airtel
Airtel is one of the largest telecommunications company in India in terms of revenues and total number of subscribers. Headquartered in India, Bharti Airtel is a leading global telecommunications company with over 550 million customers across 15 countries in India and Africa. Ranked among the top three global mobile operators by subscriber base, Airtel offers integrated services including mobile, broadband, digital payments, enterprise-grade cybersecurity, IoT, and data center solutions. The company also invests strategically in passive infrastructure provider Indus Towers Ltd.
This partnership reinforces Airtel’s vision of a digitally connected India and Ericsson’s positioning as a cornerstone in enabling next-gen telecom services globally.
REF: https://nsearchives.nseindia.com/corporate/BHARTIARTL_09062025105506_PR_June_09_-_signed.pdf
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