According to an Economic Times report, Bharti Airtel has asked for government approval to test out voice services on its 4G networks.
Airtel currently provides 4G data services in Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore. The report adds that currently, Reliance Industries-owned Infotel Broadband, the only company that has pan-India 4G airwaves, is set to get the telecom department’s (DoT’s) approval for testing voice services on this technology platform.
If Airtel get approval to test out voice calls on 4G, then this would allow users to combine high speed Internet access with calls as well.
Representational Image. AFP
4G is a serious business for most telecom companies in India. It was recently reported that Reliance Industries has plans to invest $10 billion on 4G network of its subsidiary Infotel Broadband (IBSL).
Currently, IBSL is the only company in the country that has 20 Mhz of pan-India airwaves that it can use for providing 4G services.
In October, IBSL had informed the Telecom Ministry that it is ready for trial runs of a technology that would enable voice calls service on its wireless broadband network and has sought allocation of number series to test its newly developed voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology.
