Where is 5G available in India? Do existing smartphone support 5G?

Out of India's three biggest telecom companies, only two offer 5G services to their customers. These are Jio and Airtel. While Jios'True 5G network is a standalone (SA), Airtel uses a non-standalone (NSA) that leverages the current 4G infrastructure.
Jio and Airtel expanding 5G to New Cities

Out of India’s three biggest telecom companies, only two offer 5G services to their customers. These are Jio and Airtel. While Jios’True 5G network is a standalone (SA), Airtel uses a non-standalone (NSA) that leverages the current 4G infrastructure.


Reliance Jio offers 5G services to a designated group of consumers through its 5G Welcome Offer. In contrast, all of Airtel’s customers can take advantage of the network if they own a compatible smartphone and live in an area with available 5G coverage.

Jio 5G

Reliance Jio has already reached several cities with 5G, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Gujarat (33 District Headquarters), Pune, Gurugram, Noida, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. By the end of this year, Jio plans to expand its 5G-powered Wi-Fi coverage to other major towns in Nathdwara, and by 2023, it intends to roll out across India.

Airtel 5G

Airtel 5G is available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Siliguri, Guwahati, Panipat Pune (airport area), Nagpur, Varanasi, and Gurugram. Airtel’s network is projected to grow by December. In a few years, Airtel plans on providing 5G networks throughout India.

4G SIM can be used for 5G

According to both operators, users with a 4G SIM will not need to buy a new one for 5G. When 5G becomes accessible in their area, their current SIM card will be able to support the new network and connect them to it.

Smartphone compatibility with 5G

Most smartphones with 5G capabilities can connect to Jio and Airtel 5G networks. For cell phones that don’t yet support the network, there are OTA (over-the-air) upgrades available. As soon as all the manufacturers release their respective OTA upgrades, the devices can access the 5G network.


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Hema Kadia

Hema Kadia is the Founder and CEO of TeckNexus, where she expertly generates and disseminates insights in 5G, private networks, and Open RAN, leveraging over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and technology. At TeckNexus, Hema leads a team dedicated to creating research reports, specialized magazines, whitepapers, and insightful webinars tailored for the evolving tech and telecom industries. Her leadership focuses on establishing TeckNexus as a critical resource and networking hub for industry professionals. Before founding TeckNexus, Hema played transformative leadership roles at Prodapt and Amdocs, where she spearheaded transformative initiatives in SDN-NFV and strategic alliances, significantly enhancing network technologies and shaping future business strategies. Renowned for her strategic vision, Hema has been instrumental in driving digital transformation and advancing next-generation network innovations. Hema holds master's degrees in Computer Applications and Engineering & Technology from M.S. University, India. Her educational background and professional trajectory highlight her deep understanding of both the technical and visionary dimensions of the tech industry. Hema's leadership is marked by a relentless commitment to excellence and a profound passion for empowering industry professionals with innovative solutions and actionable knowledge.
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