Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. launches beta testing of its “True 5G Services” for Jio users in four cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi on October 5th.
Reliance Industries’ telecom arm says a welcome offer will allow its invited customers to test True 5G services and provide feedback on services and user experiences.
Invited users of the “Jio Welcome Offer” will automatically be upgraded to Jio True 5G service without having to switch their existing Jio SIM card or 5G handset, the company says, adding that those customers will get unlimited 5G -Receive data at speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
The beta testing service for other cities will be announced gradually as cities continue to prepare, says India’s largest telecom operator.
Users will continue to use this beta trial until a city’s network coverage is essentially complete in order to provide each customer with the best coverage and user experience, the company said.
Jio says it is working with all cellphone brands to allow their 5G cellphones to work seamlessly with Jio True 5G services, giving customers the most comprehensive selection of 5G devices to choose from
“Our Prime Minister has made a strong call for the accelerated rollout of 5G across India to realize the full potential of a digital India. In response, Jio has prepared an ambitious and fastest-ever 5G rollout plan for any of our countries,” said Akash M Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm.
“5G cannot remain an exclusive service available to a privileged few or to those in our largest cities. It must be available to every citizen, household and business across India. Only then can we dramatically increase productivity, income and living standards across India, across our entire economy, and thus create a prosperous and inclusive society in our country,” adds Ambani.
Jio claims it’s the only operator with the 700MHz low-band spectrum that ensures deep indoor coverage. The company goes on to say that its 5G network is not dependent on its existing 4G network.
With over 425 million users, Jio says his mission with 5G is to “accelerate India’s transformation into a digital society”.
The rollout of 5G services follows 5G spectrum auctions in which 51,236MHz was allocated to telecom operators. The cumulative economic impact of 5G on India is expected to reach $450 billion by 2035, according to the Communications Ministry.
The government recently amended the Indian Telegraph Right of Way (RoW) Rules of 2016 to allow for faster and easier deployment of telecoms infrastructure for 5G rollout. The new rules cap RoW fees for installing 5G small cells and fiber optic cables on street furniture.
To build an all-India 5G network, Jio has committed an investment of 2 lakh crore. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate plans to roll out its 5G service nationwide by December 2023. “By December 2023, we will deliver Jio 5G to 3.37 million square kilometers of Indian landmass,” RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani had said in August.
