Airtel Open Network: Do we need it?

All of us are already aware of the current state of telecom networks in the country. After mobile users adjusted themselves to 3G equal to 2G formulae for mobile internet speeds, they are now somewhat getting used to weak signal reception, call drops and bad voice quality. After all, the booming smartphone landscape with an app for everything has made calling someone appear like a thing of the past.

From the subscriber’s point of view, the deal is really very simple. They need sim cards for their mobile handsets. So, they just get anything that’s cheap and promises a bare minimum. As far as the network quality is concerned, people have stopped bothering about it long time back.


There is a common misbelief among the masses that all telcos have partnered together and have promised each other to provide equally bad service, given that mobile connectivity rates are among the cheapest in India.

At a time, when every telco is staying to stay mum over questions on call drops, network quality and coverage, India’s leading operator Airtel introduced its Open Network initiative.

Under the new initiative, Airtel boasts that it is maintaining transparency by opening up its entire mobile network details to its customers through an online portal-- www.airtel.in/opennetwork.

The platform displays Airtel's mobile network coverage or signal strength across India. Network and site deployment status is also shown as well.

The of art promoting inadequacy to gain publicity

Initially, the Open Network initiative was seen as a noble step from Airtel. It made people to believe that there are problems in the industry that the company wants to talk about and take consumer’s help to solve them. However, very soon the “Open Network” initiative seems to have become Airtel’s primary marketing campaign to drive its “transparency” agenda.
While rival operators are trying to lure subscribers with attractive data plans or the promise of high speed mobile internet, Airtel is sticking to its “we are open” mantra.

It is, of course, too early to gauge the success of the “Open Network” initiative. However, whether Airtel is actually considering the feedback from its subscribers seriously or not is another matter of debate. Or, is it just another clever marketing gimmick to break the advertisement clutter?

With the immense push in recent advertisements, the Open Network initiative seems to be deviating from its actual purpose and the term “transparency” is merely used as a marketing tool to attract consumers.

Is it of any use for consumers?

The Open Network platform not only surprised subscribers with contradicting results, but also went ahead to showcase the helpless state of affairs. So, when subscribers of a particular locality are aware of the poor network quality in the region, the Open Network platform tells that the same locality has the best possible network status. Everything is in excellent condition, even when there is hardly any reception.

On the other hand, to maintain some modesty, the Open Network platform sometimes does suggest that a particular region need more telecom towers. Consumers can request for attention from Airtel and wait for things to get better.
Long story cut short, the Open Network initiative is more of platform to engage users. It is not something meant to provide relief as there is hardly any accuracy. Meanwhile, full marks to Airtel’s marketing department.