Jio rival Airtel partners with Nokia to drive sustainability initiatives for mobile networks

Telecom major Bharti Airtel and Nokia today announced a collaboration on “Green 5G,” an initiative to introduce energy-efficient solutions and practices to Airtel’s mobile network.

The project will focus on enhancing energy efficiency across Airtel's extensive 4G/5G Radio Access Network (RAN) by leveraging state-of-the-art technologies like AI/ML, as well as a suite of advanced software features and innovative solutions.

The comprehensive solution is expected to enhance energy efficiency during peak and off-peak hours and is projected to reduce Airtel’s carbon emissions by an estimated 143,413 metric tons of CO2 annually.

Leadership comments

Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, said, “In response to the surging demand for data, mobile networks across India have rapidly expanded, particularly with the rollout of 5G technology. At Bharti Airtel, our commitment to sustainability has led us to collaborate with Nokia. This partnership allows us to leverage innovative solutions that deliver substantial energy savings, enabling us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and further our environmental objectives in alignment with our business strategy.”

Tarun Chhabra, Head of Mobile Networks at Nokia, India, said, “We are excited to partner with Bharti Airtel to drive sustainable network practices in the country. Nokia has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2040. Our innovative technologies will not only enhance the overall performance of communications networks but also significantly help reduce their energy consumption, contributing to the energy efficiency targets of our customers.”