Jio says affordable 5G devices will be available by 2021
As tech companies and internet service providers (ISPs) continue to gear up for full-fledged 5G trials in India, telecom giant Reliance Jio has given some insight into its mass adoption plan for the next-generation technology. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, Mathew Oommen, the President of the company, confirmed they will start bringing affordable 5G-capable devices into the market in 2021. Here's more.
5G ecosystem to be ready by 2019-2020
Oommen reiterated the plan for 5G, noting that the ecosystem will be prepped by 2019-2020. According to the official timeline, commercial 5G roll-out will begin in 2020. However, mass-market won't get Jio's 5G services until it is 2021. "We need to take 5G to every part of India," Oommen said. "For that, 2021 is when we will have devices that will be affordable."
First 5G-enabled phones to come in 2019
"5G as a technology impact is not just in telecom but it is across, reshaping every single industry," Oommen added in the statement, noting that 5G-capable smartphones are not yet available but will start hitting the market next year.
What could be the cost of 5G services?
Though there is no word on the cost, the India head of Ericsson, which demonstrated 5G use cases developed with Jio, said the cost of 5G will be cheaper than 4G - on per gigabyte basis. Nunzio Mirtillo stated, "5G will enable a $27 billion business opportunity in India by 2026 and big part of this market will be captured by operators like Jio".
Oommen's statement on price of 5G services
"It is difficult for me in 2018 to predict what will be the cost structure in 2021" Oommen said. "Right now we have to leverage the assets we have today and grow in capacity and experience till such time."
