5G rollout will be limited in near term, says Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal

Expresses disappointment on 5G Spectrum reserve price, hints at another tariff hike for ARPU growth

Commercial 5G service will see a limited roll-out in 2022 and 2023 due to the limited number of 5G-enabled handsets and the nascent ecosystem, said Bharti Airtel’s South Asia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Gopal Vittal.

On Tuesday, the Digital Consumer Commission cleared the auction of 5G spectrum and a final decision in this regard will be taken by the Union Cabinet. The government hopes to complete the first round of auction in June and roll-out services by the end of the year.

Vittal, who has been reappointed as CEO and MD of Airtel, said the firm isn’t planning an aggressive