Bharti Airtel’s dispute with Tejas Networks has intensified, with the telecom operator reiterating that the Tata Group-owned firm’s gear deployed by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is “sub-standard,” rejecting the native gear maker Tejas’s defence as unfounded.
Additionally Learn: Airtel Alleges BSNL 4G Gear Inflicting Community Interference in Rajasthan; Tejas Denies
Airtel Flags Non-Conformance in Tejas Radios
The row started after Airtel, in a November 14 letter, sought speedy corrective motion from Tejas over persistent interference allegedly brought on by the seller’s radio gear put in at BSNL websites in Rajasthan. Airtel maintains that the problem stems from technical non-conformance in Tejas’s radios and filter design. In keeping with the operator, the filter equipped by Tejas was constructed for the 864–894 MHz vary, as per sure worldwide norms, whereas India’s 800 MHz band operates strictly inside 869–889 MHz. This deviation, Airtel mentioned, leads to spillover that disrupts its 900 MHz uplink.
Airtel Dismisses Tejas Clarification as Baseless
“The declare made by Tejas Networks is baseless. Towers have traditionally accommodated two or extra websites of various operators with out interference, so the issue is not attributable to closeness of web sites. The present downside is extra a operate of sub-standard gear which does not conform to Indian spectrum allocation necessities,” Airtel mentioned in a press release to The Financial Instances, in response to a report dated November 26, 2026.
A spokesperson for Airtel advised Enterprise Normal that the claims had been ‘baseless’, saying that towers routinely accommodate two or extra operators in shut proximity, Gulveen Aulakh reported on November 26, 2025.
Additionally Learn: Tejas Networks Rejects Airtel’s Claims, Blames Tower Proximity for Interference: Report
Tejas Blames Airtel’s Tower Proximity
Tejas Networks has rejected the allegation, saying its radios meet all out-of-band emission specs. In its November 24 response, the corporate attributed the interference to Airtel’s choice to deploy websites in very shut proximity to BSNL’s, with out guaranteeing enough coupling loss to minimise sign disruption.
“The interference from BSNL to Airtel arises not attributable to Tejas’s radios not assembly out-of-band emission specs however primarily as a result of Airtel’s websites are deployed very near BSNL’s, with out adequately maximising coupling losses,” Tejas wrote within the November 24 letter, in response to studies.
WPC Requested BSNL to Deploy Filters
In keeping with a PTI report dated November 25, 2025, Airtel had complained to the Wi-fi Planning Fee (WPC) wing of the Division of Telecom in March relating to the interference difficulty. An trade supply, who requested anonymity, mentioned the WPC has requested BSNL to deploy enough filters to resolve the issue. Sign interference might result in slowing or blocking of communications, noise in calls and different points which will adversely have an effect on service high quality.
BSNL and Bharti Airtel have been assigned radio frequency ranges that partially overlap. In such eventualities, networks are required to make enough preparations with filters and preserve enough spacing between towers to forestall sign interference.
Airtel Dismisses Clarification
Airtel, nevertheless, dismissed this rationalization, noting that telecom towers have traditionally hosted a number of operators with out interference points. It asserted that the issue lies squarely with Tejas’s gear, including that each one world distributors supplying radios for India’s 850 MHz band adjust to home spectrum norms. This implies the sign from the 850 MHz band will get turned off inside a sure restrict and thus would not intervene with the uplink of the 900 MHz band.
“However the radio gear made by Tejas for the 850 MHz for India – being utilized by BSNL – radiates alerts past these limits, thus interfering with Airtel’s 900 MHz uplink. To resolve the matter, Tejas wants to make use of a filter to make sure the gear radiates alerts solely as much as the restrict,” an Airtel spokesperson mentioned, in response to the studies.
Name for Filters to Repair
Airtel has urged Tejas to put in acceptable filters to limit emissions and stop interference with its community operations.
Additionally Learn: BSNL Flags Weak Alerts at 1000’s of New 4G Towers, Seeks Repair from TCS and Tejas
Earlier, in a separate row, BSNL had additionally raised considerations over weak transmission alerts at 1000’s of its newly deployed 4G towers—a problem contributing to name drops and slower knowledge speeds. TCS and Tejas, in response to queries, reportedly mentioned that almost all of those points have been resolved and that there isn’t a impression on BSNL’s key efficiency indicators (KPIs).
