Airtel is testing Standalone 5G service using its existing 4G spectrum

[Esmail]

With the growing demand of 5G services, and more subscribers upgrading their 4G devices to 5G, Airtel has decided to refarm some of its mid-band spectrum for 5G use. Airtel currently holds mid-band spectrum in 1800/2100/2300 MHz bands and most of it is being used for 4G service. Now some of these airwaves will be refarmed to offer standalone 5G service.

For the unaware, Airtel currently has a non standalone (NSA) 5G network which is based on a 4G core network. Standalone (SA) 5G network is based on a 5G core with no dependency on 4G network and can even offer voice service on VoNR platform, Jio currently has a fully standalone 5G network. Airtel has decided to run both SA and NSA 5G simultaneously so that users can get service as per their dynamic requirements.

Airtel re-farms its mid-band spectrum to meet the exponential growth in 5G traffic

Airtel re-farms its mid-band spectrum to meet the exponential growth in 5G traffic

www.airtel.in

 

[Ashok Varma]

Esmail bro, Is Airtel using DSS (dynamic spectrum sharing) technology for simultaneous 4G LTE and 5G SA networks in the mid band?

 

[honey95]

Airtel CEO confirmed the standard lone 5G will be much better in speed uploading and downloading. This is new significant growth in Airtel 5G.

 

[Esmail]

Esmail bro, Is Airtel using DSS (dynamic spectrum sharing) technology for simultaneous 4G LTE and 5G SA networks in the mid band?

Yes they are using DSS

 

[Ashok Varma]

Yes they are using DSS

Is Jio using DSS for any band?

 

[L3G3ND]

Is Jio using DSS for any band?

They aren't I guess coz the are only using 5G SA only

 

[Esmail]

Is Jio using DSS for any band?

They are using 4G in 850/1800/2300 MHz bands and 5G in 700/3500/26000 MHz bands so there is no band commonly being used for 4G and 5G so no need for DSS.

 

[Esmail]

They aren't I guess coz the are only using 5G SA only

DSS works for both SA and NSA 5G modes if a common band is being used for 5G and 4G technologies by the operator.

 

[Ashok Varma]

They are using 4G in 850/1800/2300 MHz bands and 5G in 700/3500/26000 MHz bands so there is no band commonly being used for 4G and 5G so no need for DSS.

If Airtel launch 5G SA on midbands, then they can lead in customer acquisition particularly in Cities. I think Jio is stuck with Samsung 4G equipment without DSS.

 

[Esmail]

If Airtel launch 5G SA on midbands, then they can lead in customer acquisition particularly in Cities. I think Jio is stuck with Samsung 4G equipment without DSS.

DSS is a workaround which is like a compromise and reduces the performance and efficiency of both 4G and 5G network. Nothing beats a dedicated standalone network.
Jio has the resources to just buy more spectrum in 1800 and 2100 MHz bands to use for 5G as and when the need arises. And the 2300 MHz band will also eventually be refarmed for 5G as and when the usage shifts from 4G to 5G.