Airtel to launch voice services for LTE customers soon

Bharti Airtel will soon launch voice services for its 4G, TD-LTE (Time Division Duplex Long Term Evolution) customers in Pune, India through its existing GSM network. The operator has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to deploy its Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB) voice solution in the operator’s live TD-LTE network in the city. With CSFB, the network can transfer customers to GSM platform to make and receive voice calls and access voice mails while retaining the experience of fast data services on 4G smartphones.

Jagbir Singh, CTO and Director of Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel, said, “Bharti Airtel has the advantage of pan-India GSM and 3G networks and with the deployment of cutting edge CSFB functionality, we will have the flexibility of using either or both the networks to support voice services on our TD-LTE platform. The solution will enable our 4G customers to enjoy high-quality voice services on GSM network and ultra-fast data services on TD-LTE platform – thereby allowing them to have a unified experience on a 4G handset.”

Nokia Siemens Networks has deployed its radio network elements in addition to its voice core and packet core network elements to Airtel's network in Pune. The company deployed its Single RAN (radio access network) platform, based on its Flexi Multiradio Base Station. In addition, its Mobile Softswitching (MSS) systems and its Liquid Core-based Evolved Packet Core (EPC) platform, including Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway) have also been deployed. Nokia Siemens Networks’ network management system NetAct has been implemented to monitor, manage and optimise the network.

Airtel launched its 4G services in Pune back in October 2012, and became the first service provider in Maharashtra to bring 4G to customers.

Airtel 4G gives customers access to data for High Definition (HD) video streaming, instant uploading of photos, rich content and much more. Bharti Airtel also has plans for rolling out India’s first multi-mode LTE TDD smartphone in India, along with partners Qualcomm and Huawei.

Customers can now check the availability of Airtel 4G services in their area online through a Google Maps interface and buy the services online. Along with a host of payment options, Airtel 4G is also available on monthly EMIs and cash on delivery.