Airtel launches 4G across 296 towns

Bharti Airtel, the world's third largest mobile services provider, has launched commercial 4G services (also called LTE) across 296 towns across India. This follows the completion of trials of services in select cities and customer feedback.

Following the launch, Airtel's 4G customers will be able to access high speed wireless broadband that will enable them watch HD video streaming, super-fast uploading and downloading of movies, music and images. The services are also available 4G across a range of smart devices including mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots and Wi-Fi dongles.

"With the help of the feedback received from the beta launches, we have now built India's first commercial 4G network that will make high speed mobile broadband a reality.  The national roll-out today is another small step in our journey to be the most innovative and customer focused brand," said Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia).

''We also believe that an open platform is critical to developing an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and enabling our consumers to access a myriad set of possibilities on their mobile phones. Our 4G network is therefore built on an open partner ecosystem model that brings together the best in the industry and introduces the market to these never before experiences," he added.

Airtel had first launched 4G network in Kolkata in 2012.

Airtel also launched a carrier agnostic mobile app – 'Wynk Movies' – a movie mall that will offer a specially curated library of thousands of movies and other popular videos.

This follows the successful launch of Wynk Music and establishes Airtel as the only mobile operator in India to offer OTT (Over-the-Top) mobile applications that work across carriers.