Huawei Deploys India's First AI Based Pre-5G Technology On Vodafone Idea Network

Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei on Monday said it has deployed India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) based pre-5G technology on Vodafone Idea network. The telecom gear maker claimed that the deployment of AI-based massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) network will enhance user experience by three-fold within the same set of spectrums.

“We are consistently deploying futuristic, next generation technologies to enhance the capacity and efficiency of our network. Adding AI capabilities to India’s largest deployment of massive MIMO for enhancing user experience is a further testament of our commitment to create a future-proof network for the digital era,” Vodafone Idea Ltd Chief Technology Officer Vishant Vora said in a statement.

Massive MIMO leverages 5G technologies in 4G network, it added. “We are delighted to partner with Vodafone Idea Limited in making them ready for the 5G-led future. The deployed solution will enable Vodafone Idea to enhance their pre-5G massive MIMO network,” Huawei India CEO Jay Chen said. At present, Vodafone Idea network has India’s largest and world’s third largest massive MIMO deployment, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Huawei India CEO Jay Chen on Sunday said that the company does not wish to get caught in geopolitical crossfire, and that it remains fully committed to complying with the laws of the land, riding on the strength of its technology.

The comments assume significance as the US has blacklisted Huawei and is now persuading its allies to block the world’s largest provider of networking gear and No.2 smartphone maker from their new mobile networks. Chen said it is now an “accepted fact that Huawei’s technology is much ahead of the industry”, and that the company is a “frontrunner in 5G”.

“So, keeping us out will be loss to Indian operators, vertical industries as well as the end consumer. We are confident of the Indian government taking an independent and unbiased decision that provides level-playing-field for all players of the country, one that is guided by policy, standards and procedure and not based on the country of origin or speculative allegations lacking evidence,” Chen said.