Indian telco Bharti Airtel announced on Monday that it has expanded its 5G coverage to the remote Zanskar valley in Kargil district, making it the first 5G service in the valley.
The Zanskar valley, which is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh, is one of the most remote areas in India. At 7756m above sea level, the valley experiences extreme weather conditions in winter that make it almost inhabitable for six months out of the year. However, it’s also a popular tourist destination because of the ‘Chadar Trek’ along the frozen Zanskar river that attracts tourists from India and overseas.
Airtel said the launch of its 5G Plus service in all 25 villages in the Zanskar valley will not only benefit locals but also provide critical network connectivity during emergencies for locals and tourists alike. Airtel added that 5G Plus is now available across all districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh as of mid-November.
Airtel has spent much of 2023 expanding its 5G network, which it says covered 20,000 villages and 5,000 towns as of October 2023 since its launch a year ago. In November alone, Airtel said it has expanded 5G coverage to all districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh West and Gujarat.
