Bharti Airtel taps into free-space optical communications to expand coverage and boost capacity
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
Bharti Airtel has trialled and subsequently deployed a new technology for wireless backhaul. The technology, free-space optical communications (FSOC), has been pioneered by Taara – a division of X, the Moonshot Factory of Alphabet. This case-study report explains FSOC, outlines Bharti Airtel’s deployment of the technology, and assesses FSOC’s viability as an alternative transport solution.
Related research
The Mobile Economy China 2025
Mobile is a powerful engine behind China’s economy, driving growth across industries, creating jobs and boosting GDP. As 5G technology matures, China is positioning itself as a global leader through rapid infrastructure deployment, including the transition to 5G-Advanced, and the integration of 5G-enabled solutions across the economy.
Satellite and NTN tracker, Q1 2025
Direct to cell continues to be the main attraction for operators due to the monetisation opportunities from an extended coverage footprint. IoT is an interesting storyline in 2025 given that the latest standards (Release 19) incorporate new functionality for non-terrestrial network services geared at IoT applications such as sensors, telematics and energy monitoring.
What did operators focus on at MWC Barcelona 2025?
GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition looks at which topics telecoms operators focused on at MWC Barcelona 2025.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
The Mobile Economy China 2025
Mobile is a powerful engine behind China’s economy, driving growth across industries, creating jobs and boosting GDP. As 5G technology matures, China is positioning itself as a global leader through rapid infrastructure deployment, including the transition to 5G-Advanced, and the integration of 5G-enabled solutions across the economy.
Satellite and NTN tracker, Q1 2025
Direct to cell continues to be the main attraction for operators due to the monetisation opportunities from an extended coverage footprint. IoT is an interesting storyline in 2025 given that the latest standards (Release 19) incorporate new functionality for non-terrestrial network services geared at IoT applications such as sensors, telematics and energy monitoring.
What did operators focus on at MWC Barcelona 2025?
GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition looks at which topics telecoms operators focused on at MWC Barcelona 2025.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics