The Maha Kumbh 2025 witnessed an unprecedented surge in voice and data traffic as millions of devotees gathered in Prayagraj between January 13 and February 26. Swedish telecom giant Ericsson and Jio Infocomm played a crucial role in maintaining uninterrupted communication services by handling a staggering 2 crore voice and 40 crore data service requests on Jio’s True 5G network.
Millions of attendees shared photos and videos of the event, generating heavy data traffic. Varanasi and Ayodhya also experienced significant network load during the festival period. Despite the surge, Jio and Ericsson ensured top-notch connectivity through strategic planning and cutting-edge technology.
Advanced Network Solutions Ensured Smooth Operations
To accommodate the massive traffic demand, Jio and Ericsson deployed:
- Network slicing and carrier aggregation via the 700 MHz band
- Voice over NR (VoNR) for superior call quality on 5G
- Real-time traffic monitoring and analytics for instant network optimization
Jio set up five on-field war rooms within a ‘no vehicle zone’ to ensure service availability at all times. Round-the-clock monitoring helped tackle network congestion efficiently, providing a seamless experience for millions of users.
5G Innovations to Support Heavy Traffic
One of the key strategies included deploying a 10 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz band without requiring additional hardware. This move helped handle the increased LTE traffic without physical infrastructure modifications.
Vijay Sharma, Head of Customer Unit Reliance Jio at Ericsson, highlighted the scale of the operations, stating that on a peak day, Jio successfully managed 20 million voice and 400 million data service requests. He further added that Ericsson’s 5G solutions handled 55 percent of the total data traffic during the event, reinforcing their commitment to superior network performance.
With meticulous planning and next-gen 5G technology, Ericsson and Jio delivered an exceptional network experience, ensuring that millions of devotees could stay connected throughout the Maha Kumbh 2025.
