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Bharti Airtel Expands International Roaming with Unlimited Data Bundles

Bharti Airtel has announced plans to expand its international roam- across 189 countries. Siddharth Sharma, Bharti Airtel’s Director of
ing (IR) portfolio by introducing unlimited data bundles available Marketing and CEO of its Connected Homes unit, said: “We have
dramatically simplified our IR plans to truly redefine our value prop-
osition for customers, giving them the freedom to use data and
voice generously while roaming the world.” The new offering also
includes additional benefits such as in-flight connectivity, automat-
ic activation upon landing, and 24/7 customer support. Airtel has
also introduced a new INR 4,000 recharge plan, valid for one year,
which includes 5GB of international data and 100 minutes for over-
seas use. Domestically, the plan offers 6.5GB of daily data along
with unlimited calls. The operator said the plan is designed to deliv-
er a seamless and hassle-free experience for subscribers.

Vodafone and A1 Achieve 5G SA International Roaming Connection

Britain’s Vodafone Group and Austria’s A1 Group have announced championships and provide the same consistent, fast connectivity
a key milestone: a successful 5G Standalone (SA) roaming at a company’s warehouses and factories across many markets,”
connection between two separate operator groups. The connection, said Alberto Ripepi, chief network officer at Vodafone Group. The
established between Vodafone Germany and A1 Bulgaria (a roaming connection was enabled through a 5G SA architecture
member of A1 Telekom Austria Group), enabled a mobile subscriber leveraging Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core and Security Edge
from A1 Bulgaria to roam on Vodafone Germany’s 5G SA network Protection Proxy (SEPP) platforms, deployed by both Vodafone
using a standard device. The roaming session was powered by and A1. Ericsson’s Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) — part of
commercially available 5G core network software compliant with its Cloud Signaling portfolio — was installed at Vodafone Germany
the latest 3GPP standards. In addition to data connectivity, the test and provides advanced integrated security capabilities to protect
successfully demonstrated advanced voice capabilities, including subscriber and network data during cross-border usage, in line with
immersive surround sound expected to be supported by next- GSMA recommendations. A SEPP acts as the security gateway on
generation smartphones. Unlike Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G, 5G interconnections between home network and visited networks. It
SA does not depend on an LTE EPC to operate. Rather, it pairs 5G provides application layer, end-to-end authentication, integrity and
radios with a cloud-native 5G core network. The 5G core itself is confidentiality protection via signatures and encryption, critical
designed as a Service-Based Architecture (SBA) which virtualizes management mechanisms for setting cryptographic keys, as well
network functions altogether, providing the full range of 5G as enables message filtering and policing, topology hiding and
features and capabilities. “Ultimately, 5G SA roaming will enhance validation of JSON objects.
the customer experience at international events like football

2degrees Fined for False Roaming Claim

New Zealand operator 2degrees admitted its marketing material businesses need to consider the overall impression of headline
made misleading claims that roaming in Australia was free, claims, adding key information about claims they’re making needs
acknowledging a campaign created the impression customers on to be easy to find and not buried in the fine print. The campaign ran
business plans could roam year-round at no extra cost. The between 2020 and 2023. The operator updated its promotional
Auckland District Court fined the operator AUD325,000 ($186,469), material and removed the 90-day limit on free business roaming. It
which had pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Fair-Trading Act. also refunded current and former customers charged for business
The Commerce Commission highlighted in a statement affected roaming in Australia in excess of 90 days. The Commerce
customers were in fact charged for roaming in Australia after only Commission filed eight charges nearly a year ago against the
90 days. Commission deputy chair Anne Callinan insisted operator for false claims made in marketing campaigns.

55 MAY 2025