Airtel becomes first telco to launch 5G on Kochi’s water metro route

Bharti Airtel has expanded its 5G coverage in Kochi by launching the next-gen service in the picturesque island city’s water metro route.

Airtel’s 5G connectivity will be available to customers taking the Kerala Water Metro service between the High Court-Vypin terminals and the Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals in Kochi.

”It’s yet another milestone in our ambition to deliver blazing fast 5G speeds to as many of our customers as possible, including on waterways…our customers can now enjoy the power of the 5G service on the water metro ride and relish the scenic beauty of Kochi,” Amit Gupta, Airtel’s COO (Kerala) said in a statement Thursday.

The water metro connects 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for seamless connectivity with the city.

Airtel has been rapidly expanding its 5G network since last October. It has already rolled out 5G services in more than 3,500 cities/towns, aiming to launch 5G services in all urban areas by September 2023 and a pan-India rollout by December. It already has over 10 million 5G customers nationally.