Intel and Airtel partner for 5G O-RAN network deal to ramp up 5G rollout in India

Bharti Airtel on July 21 announced a collaboration with Intel to ramp up 5G network development by leveraging virtualized rio access network (vRAN) and O-RAN (open rio access network) technologies. In a move aimed at significantly accelerating 5G in India, Airtel will be deploying Intel’s 3rd gen Xeon® Scalable processors, FPGAs and eASICs, and Ernet 800 series across its network to set up “a solid foundation for rolling out wide-scale 5G, mobile edge computing and network slicing.”

As Airtel and Intel both are members of O-RAN Alliance, both companies would work in close collaboration to develop a range of Make in India 5G solutions and furr enabling world-class telecom infrastructure in India via local partners. Airtel said in a statement that Open rio access network (O-RAN) will be an area of “tremendous innovation and creativity in coming years.” It ded, “ se O-RAN platforms will leverage Intel FlexRAN, a reference architecture with both software and hardware components, and enable software-based rio base stations that can run on general-purpose servers located at network edge.”

Airtel expresses delight in partnering with Intel

In a statement, Bharti Airtel CTO Randeep Sekhon said, “Airtel is delighted to have Intel as a part of its rapidly expanding partner ecosystem for 5G. Intel’s cutting-edge technologies and experience will contribute immensely to Airtel’s mission of serving India with world-class 5G services. We also look forward to working with Intel and home-grown companies to unlock India’s potential as a global 5G hub.”

Meanwhile, Dan Rodriguez, Intel corporate vice president, Network Platforms Group also said that ability to “digitally power vibrant population of India’s connected users requires scalable and agile networks that can evolve to dress growing demands of its users. Airtel is delivering ir next-generation enhanced network with a breth of Intel technology, including Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors and FlexRAN software to optimize RAN worklos with embedded intelligence, to scale ir infrastructure and deliver on promise of a connected India.”

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