Airtel to shut down 3G network in 3-4 yrs, continue 2G, 4G services

Telecom major Bharti Airtel is likely to shut down 3G service in next 3-4 years and reframe the spectrum linked with it for 4G services, a top official of the company said.

"There is almost no spent that we are doing on 3G. Our view is in next 3-4 years we are likely to see 3G network actually shut down faster than 2G network because there are still 50 per cent of phone being shipped out in India that are feature phones," Gopal Vittal, MD and CEO, India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel, said during earnings call on Wednesday.

He said that the company is investing in 4G technology to build more data capacity in the network.

The company will use 2100 megahertz band, which is used for 3G services, for 4G services.

"Where we have the second carrier of 3G or third carrier then through the flip of software you get incremental capacity on 3G. Most of that spectrum will finally go towards 4G for which we will need to have radio units," Vittal said.

He said that in some telecom circles the company has installed modern 3G equipment which can support 4G services but the initially deployed equipment for 3G services will need to be replaced.

"Some of the older radios are pure 3G which we need to replace. It will take its time. I think that the answer for that will be function of how fast pick up of voice happens on VoLTE (4G voice call network). The moment that happens voice will not be required to be carried on 3G which can help reafrm us 2100 Mhz for 4G," Vittal said.

The telecom major on Tuesday posted a sixth straight quarter of drop in earnings as its consolidated net profit plunged 76.5 per cent to Rs 343 crore for the September quarter compared to Rs 1,461 crore it registered in the same period a year ago.