Nicole McCormick, chief analyst for consumer 5G and broadband monetization at Omdia, said the launch by Airtel reflects a broader shift among operators toward protecting premium subscriber experiences while seeking new revenue opportunities from 5G services
In sum – what to know:
5G monetization push – Analysts said Airtel’s slicing-based postpaid offering could support customer retention and encourage premium prepaid users to migrate to higher-value plans.
Standalone 5G competition – Omdia said both Airtel and Reliance Jio are actively pursuing consumer-focused network slicing deployments in India.
Premium connectivity trend – Airtel’s launch reflects broader operator efforts to use 5G slicing technology for differentiated connectivity services and network prioritization.
Indian carrier Bharti Airtel has launched what it describes as India’s first commercial 5G network slicing service for postpaid subscribers, as operators increasingly explore premium connectivity services to support 5G monetization strategies.
The new “Priority Postpaid” service uses 5G slicing technology to provide prioritized network resources for Airtel postpaid users during periods of high network congestion. The operator said the service is intended to deliver more stable connectivity for applications including video streaming, online collaboration, and mobile productivity.
In comments shared with RCR Wireless News, Nicole McCormick, chief analyst for consumer 5G and broadband monetization at Omdia, said the launch reflects a broader shift among operators toward protecting premium subscriber experiences while seeking new revenue opportunities from 5G services.
“The strategy focuses on customer retention by guaranteeing postpaid users a minimum network experience,” McCormick said. “As enhanced technologies emerge, operators are increasingly prioritizing the protection of VIP and postpaid customers.”
She added that the approach could also support average revenue per user (ARPU) growth by encouraging high-value prepaid subscribers to migrate to premium plans. “Simultaneously, this approach creates opportunities to encourage high-value prepaid customers to upgrade to premium postpaid plans, unlocking potential for incremental revenue growth,” McCormick said.
Network slicing allows operators to create multiple virtual networks within the same physical 5G infrastructure, with each slice optimized for different applications, users or performance requirements. The technology is considered one of the key capabilities enabled by standalone 5G architecture.
While Airtel described the launch as the first of its kind in India, McCormick noted that rival operator Reliance Jio Infocomm is also actively deploying slicing capabilities.
“Reliance Jio is also highly engaged in network slicing, reportedly with 10 live nationwide slices available, including gaming for consumers,” McCormick said. “Its fixed-wireless traffic also occupies its own slice.”
According to McCormick, the development positions India among the leading global markets experimenting with consumer-oriented slicing deployments. “With both Jio and Bharti now pursuing network slicing for consumer applications, India is positioning itself among the world’s leading innovators in network slicing technology,” she said. “As far as I’m aware, it is the second country where an operator has launched a dedicated network slice for postpaid consumers.”
Airtel said the Priority Postpaid service will be available across all of its postpaid plans and that existing subscribers will automatically receive access to the feature.
