Nokia secures 4G and 5G extension contract from Bharti Airtel for India operations

Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and MD of Bharti Airtel, emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership in enhancing Airtel's connectivity solutions.

“This collaboration with Nokia will future-proof our network infrastructure, ensuring an unparalleled user experience while minimizing environmental impact through eco-friendly initiatives,” Vittal stated. 

The deal aims to bolster Airtel’s 5G capabilities and support its network's long-term evolution.

Nokia's President and CEO, Pekka Lundmark, highlighted the agreement as a reinforcement of their long-standing collaboration.

“This deal will not only enhance Airtel’s 5G connectivity and service quality but also improve the energy efficiency of its network,” Lundmark noted. 

Nokia and Bharti Airtel have partnered for over two decades, recently launching the 'Green 5G Initiative' to boost Airtel’s energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

This deal aligns with Airtel’s focus on sustainable, high-quality network solutions. 

Under the agreement, Airtel will also utilise Nokia’s MantaRay Network Management platform, which incorporates AI-based tools for advanced network monitoring and management. 

This extension follows Vodafone Idea's recent $3.6 billion equipment deals to enhance its 4G network and initiate 5G rollout.

Earlier reports suggested that Airtel’s equipment suppliers—Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung—are expected to supply approximately 50 percent, 45 percent, and 5 percent, respectively, of the new 4G and 5G infrastructure. 

Airtel has shown strong performance this year, with its stock up over 50 percent.

For the September quarter, the company posted a 167 percent surge in net profit, reaching Rs 3,593 crore, supported by robust growth in its India and Africa operations.

Revenue from operations climbed 12 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 41,473 crore. 

Globally, Nokia has been restructuring amid slowing sales and reduced market share in China, partly affected by US-China trade tensions.

The company plans to cut approximately 2,000 jobs in Greater China and 350 in Europe as part of cost-saving measures.

Despite these challenges, Nokia continues to diversify its customer base and strengthen its presence in markets like India.