Airtel Becomes First Telecom Operator in India to Launch 5G Network Slicing for Postpaid Users

What You need to Know

• Airtel is the first telecom operator in India to launch commercial 5G network slicing.

• The new Airtel Priority Postpaid feature offers faster and more stable connectivity during congestion.

• Existing Airtel postpaid users will get the feature automatically on eligible plans.

• Users need a compatible standalone 5G smartphone to access the service.

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India's telecom industry is set to witness a change in its landscape after Bharti Airtel becomes the first telecom service provider in India to roll out 5G network slicing technology commercially. This telecom giant has rolled out an exciting new feature called Airtel Priority Postpaid that ensures high-speed and dependable connectivity even in crowded areas where mobile networks are generally slow.

This step is taken to ensure better 5G performance for premium users, especially during times of network congestion. No matter whether one is at a concert, travelling during peak hours, working from their vehicle, or booking a cab in a congested market, Airtel promises stable connectivity with less latency with Priority Postpaid.

Airtel Priority Postpaid is now being rolled out automatically for all its existing customers on Airtel postpaid plans for individuals and families. On the other hand, new customers can opt for Airtel postpaid plans through Airtel's official app and retail stores.

What is 5G Network Slicing?

Network slicing in 5G standalone networks is among the key benefits of 5G standalone networks. Simply put, it is the process through which telecom companies create several virtual networks, known as slices, from a single physical network.

For instance, some slices will cater to gamers who need low latency, other slices will cater to businesses that require stable connections, and some others will cater to ordinary consumers. The Priority Postpaid service by Airtel leverages this technology to prioritize postpaid subscribers during peak periods.

This means users may experience:

• Faster internet speeds

• More stable video calls

• Better streaming quality

• Lower latency during gaming

• Improved connectivity in crowded areas

Countries like the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia have already deployed similar network slicing technologies. Airtel is now bringing this advanced 5G capability to Indian consumers for the first time.

Why Airtel’s New Feature Matters

Even with unlimited 5G data available to Indian telecom customers on various plans, network reliability is still a major concern. At times when there are many people accessing the network, such as during large-scale events, festivals, concerts, railway stations, airports, and congested traffic, the speed of the internet is significantly slowed down because of heavy user traffic.

Airtel's Priority Postpaid technology is expected to address this challenge through providing reliable connectivity to those eligible users.

According to Shashwat Sharma, the Managing Director and CEO of Airtel, the company aims at providing customers with significant improvements in their experience. The new feature is expected to deliver the best network experience regardless of whether the user is making client calls amid heavy traffic, streaming online at a packed concert, or downloading an application at a congested market place.

The launch also comes at a time when the competition for Airtel in the premium telecom sector is becoming stiffer with companies like Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea.

Airtel Priority Postpaid Plans and Benefits

Airtel has upgraded all its postpaid plans to include Priority Postpaid benefits. Along with priority 5G access, users also continue to receive OTT subscriptions, cloud storage, fraud protection, and spam alerts.

Rs 449 Individual Plan

The entry-level postpaid plan includes:

• Priority on 5G with Fastlane technology

• Unlimited calls and data

• Fraud detection and spam alerts

• 100 SMS per day

• Airtel Xstream Play access

• Adobe Express Premium

• 100GB cloud storage

Rs 599 Individual Plan

This plan offers all benefits from the Rs 449 plan along with:

• Prime Video subscription

Rs 699 Family Plan (2 Connections)

The family plan for two users includes:

• Priority 5G access

• Unlimited calls and data

• Airtel Xstream Play

• Adobe Express Premium

• 100GB cloud storage

• JioHotstar subscription

• Prime Video access

Rs 999 Family Plan (3 Connections)

This plan adds more premium benefits, including:

• Apple TV+

• Apple Music

• Prime Video

• JioHotstar

Rs 1,119 Family Plan (4 Connections)

The benefits remain similar to the Rs 999 plan but support up to four family members.

Rs 1,749 Family Plan (5 Connections)

This is Airtel’s top-end Priority Postpaid plan and includes:

• Netflix subscription

• Prime Video

• Apple TV+

• Apple Music

• JioHotstar

• 100GB cloud storage

• Airtel Xstream Play

• Adobe Express Premium

It is important to note that all mentioned plan prices are exclusive of 18 percent GST.

Compatible Devices Required

To use Airtel Priority Postpaid, users must have:

• A compatible standalone (SA) 5G smartphone

• Latest software updates installed

• Eligible Airtel postpaid plan

Airtel says users can check whether their smartphone supports the feature directly inside the Airtel Thanks app.

Currently, the feature is available only for postpaid customers. Prepaid users will need to upgrade to an eligible postpaid plan if they want access to Airtel’s priority network slicing feature.

Airtel Targets Premium Users with Better Connectivity

Clearly, from the latest move by Airtel, it is evident that the company is concentrating on premium customers who prefer reliable connectivity than having bigger data packs. Telecom companies in India, in recent years, have been competing on the aspect of unlimited data and pricing. But, it seems like Airtel is moving its focus towards better networking.

If the network slicing technology of Airtel proves successful in practical use, it can create an edge for the company in the premium telecom segment of India. This technology would be very useful for those who experience slow internet during concerts, sporting events, congested travel routes, or when commuting to their offices.

The launch of this technology marks an important step in the development of standalone 5G telecom technologies.