India’s biggest telecom operator Bharti Airtel, has now announced the roll-out of its 4G LTE service in Mysore in Karnataka. Lately the company has been launching its next generation communications network in various parts of the country with as less delay as possible, with the intention of gaining a firm foothold in this segment before more players start crowding in.
Only last week, Airtel also released 4G in Delhi NCR and Hisar. For those in Mysore who wish to migrate to the speedier network, the mobile operator has promised a complimentary upgrade, offering 4G at 3G prices. But many customers in Delhi have been complaining about the 4G service, or the lack of it, to be more precise. It looks like the company has to iron out a lot of kinks before it can confidently boast about the facilities it provides.
A report published on the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) website recently claims that usage of social networks by the rural population in India grew by 100 percent in one year. In April 2015, the nation’s social media users numbered at 143 million, with 61 percent of this group accessing the Internet on their mobile devices. There is growing demand for data, and plenty of opportunities for operators to capture the market in its current nascent stage.
Related post: Bharti Airtel has launched its 4G services in Hisar
In addition to Mysore, Delhi NCR and Hisar, Airtel also offers 4G LTE in Pune, Kolkata, Ambala, Aurangabad, Mangaluru, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Amritsar, Nashik, Bengaluru, Moga, Patiala and other metropolitan areas. Customers can avail of it by signing up for a compatible SIM card, dongle, MiFi or router. The telecom brand first rolled out 4G (for Kolkata) in 2012. Since then, it has been covering more regions slowly but steadily.
One of Airtel’s ongoing campaigns to bring more people into its 4G fold involves a ‘Double Data’ deal on select smartphones. Those who wish to access the faster network can go to a nearby customer care outlet and swap their 3G SIM for a 4G one or apply for a home Internet solution.