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.

Additional News

Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are propelling India into the 5G era with substantial financial investments and rapid network rollouts. Garnering over 100 million 5G users collectively within a year of service launch, these telecom giants are not only enhancing connectivity across the nation but also meeting the burgeoning demand for high-speed internet among Indian consumers. Amidst multi-billion-dollar loans and strategic expansions, the 5G race in India is unfolding at a remarkable pace, promising a transformative impact on the country’s digital landscape.
Ericsson ConsumerLab presents a deep dive into the evolving world of 5G, exploring pivotal consumer trends and network satisfaction across 28 global markets. This comprehensive research, involving 37,000 consumers, sheds light on the shifting paradigms of 5G user satisfaction, the transformative impact of 5G on video streaming and AR usage, and the critical role of 5G performance in influencing consumer loyalty. Furthermore, it explores the emerging monetization models, revealing that consumers are willing to pay a premium for enhanced 5G connectivity and tailored Quality of Service offerings. Dive into a world where 5G is not just a technology but a pivotal element shaping consumer behaviors, expectations, and loyalty in the digital age.
AST SpaceMobile has unveiled its space-based 5G broadband capabilities, achieving a new data rate of 14 Mbps, following successful 4G tests with AT&T and Vodafone. This was accomplished using the BlueWalker 3 satellite, in partnership with Vodafone, AT&T, and Nokia. This advancement underscores the potential of bridging 4G and 5G connectivity gaps globally. AST SpaceMobile’s patented technology will also be integral to their commercial satellites, with the first five set for a Q1 2024 launch.
Eutelsat Communications announced the completion of its all-share combination with OneWeb, the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network, following the approval today at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting of Eutelsat shareholders. This combination forms the Eutelsat Group. The newly formed Eutelsat Group is strategically positioned to be a global leader in space communications. Eutelsat’s powerful GEO fleet will combine network density and high throughput with the low latency and ubiquity of OneWeb’s LEO constellation to offer customers global, fully integrated connectivity services.
Verizon introduces its cutting-edge Mobile Onsite Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) – a portable 10-foot trailer designed to deliver unparalleled private network, MEC, SD-Wan, and satellite services directly to clients. With its inaugural deployment at Lockheed Martin’s Colorado campus, the NaaS serves as a dynamic testing platform. Additionally, it doubles as a Mobile Lab for clients needing onsite application testing, further amplifying Verizon Innovation Labs’ customer-centric solutions.”
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