Airtel is shutting down 3G to expand its 4G network

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has issued a public notice that it has granted permission to Bharti Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd to shut down its 3G network by June 24, 2022. As such, any Airtel subscriber on 3G will automatically lose connection after June 24. However, Airtel notes that its 2G network will continue to operate as usual and will be accessible to all subscribers regardless.

The notice comes as part of Airtel’s efforts into expanding its 4G capabilities through the frequencies that would become available as a result of the 3G shutdown. Owing to the possibility of service disruptions following this shutdown, the TRC has given a 15-months window for Airtel to avoid such a situation.

Moving from Airtel 3G to 4G

The TRC also states that Airtel is obliged to absorb at least 90% of the 3G subscriber base into its 4G network. Accordingly, the telco is to actively push for subscribers to move to 4G through a number of means. This includes offering a series of different promotions, an “impressive tariff package” for the first 06 months, and taking “every endeavor to provide 4G handsets for its 3G subscribers at a subsidized rate on an installment basis” among others.

Further, users currently on 2G and 3G can dial 780 to upgrade to a 4G connection as well as a 4G-enabled smartphone that the operator will provide under concessionary terms. However, this offer will only be valid until June 1, 2022. Should any user be unable to redeem the 4G phone concession during this period, the TRC notes that subscribers can file a complaint.

Airtel has been significantly investing in its 4G infrastructure during the past few years. By November 2021, the telco added over 2,000 sites along with 400 additional towers commissioned across the country following its 4G launch. The push from the company was a result of the sharp uptick in data usage following the pandemic.

What about 5G?

With regards to its 5G plans, Airtel states that it will only delve into it once demand levels are high enough. “Currently we don’t see any major demand for 5G. However, when we did upgrade to 4G we did have in mind to leave room for the next phase of development 5G. Hence when we decide to launch 5G we only have to do modifications,” said Airtel Sri Lanka Managing Director CEO Ashish Chandra when the telco announced its “Freedom Packs” last year.

The company follows a similar approach to Hutch when it comes to building 4G and 5G infrastructure, which is a stark contrast to its bigger counterparts, Mobitel and Dialog. Back in 2018, Hutch announced its launching 4G and proceeded to expand coverage islandwide two years later even as Mobitel and Dialog were already testing 5G. The idea here is that mass adoption of 4G and the availability of 4G handsets wasn’t as common as it is today.

It will be interesting to see how Airtel’s 4G expansion efforts will pan out for the company, particularly amidst the current backdrop. Either way, if you’re an Airtel user on 2G/3G perhaps it’s finally time to get that 4G upgrade.

Update 29/04/2022: Earlier report suggested that Airtel is shutting down its 2G service too, which isn’t the case. The article has been updated accordingly.