Airtel, one of India’s top cellular companies has joined hands with Apple to broaden 4G network services to smartphone in India. The company has launched its 4G network in Bangalore and iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C users who have Airtel network can now access 4G on their smartphone.
Airtel announced that its 3G users can get the 4G network at the same price but they have to get a new sim that would support 4G coverage. Back in 2012 the company had launched India’s first 4G services in Kolkata.
The exclusive availability is subject to the 4G support that exists in both of apple’s new smartphone while most top smartphone in India do not have such functionality.
Apart from the latest iPhone models other smartphone models such as Xolo and Huawei with 4G LTE support will be joining the 4G lineup at Airtel.
“We are proud to announce the launch of the much awaited Airtel 4G services on mobile in partnership with Apple. We will together give customers in Bengaluru the power to upgrade to cutting edge 4G LTE technology at no additional cost.” Said Sirini Gopalan the Director of Consumer Business at Bharti Airtel India.
However the 4G services are currently limited to Bangalore and Kolkata the fact that Airtel has access to more 4G spectrum hints that it won’t be long before 4G would reach broader consumer market.
The move would challenge the smartphone biggies to bring latest smartphone that support 4G LTE coverage. The new batch of smartphone with 4G LTE support should include Samsung’s new flagship model Galaxy S5 which will be unveiled later this month.
Although most current smartphone models from the makers of Samsung, Sony, LG and HTC offer 4G LTE support in various other country they are absent in India.
In the meanwhile Chinese smartphone makes such as Huawei, Xolo and Oppo will try to cash in by driving in more mid range smartphone that support 4G LTE.
The Indian mobile manufactures will also have a work on their sleeve as the 4G coverage is just going to spread from now on. So Micromax, Karbonn and other Desi mobile companies would better be ready to meet the demand.