In almost a week’s time, it is possible that you start seeing the 5G icon in your smartphone’s status bar. After the spectrum concluded successfully in July, telecom operators in India set out to fast-track the process of 5G deployment. While Jio and Airtel will kick off 5G services as early as October, Vi might take some time, but in any case, metro cities will be the first to get them. So, while companies are making sure they offer the best 5G services, customers also have certain things to do to be able to experience 5G. There are a lot of questions pertaining to 5G that customers want answers to. 

When will 5G become available? How will I get it? Do I need a new phone? Which phone should I get? Do I need a new SIM card? People have endless questions right now, but some of them are important.

Do I need 5G?

If you keep the concept of lifestyle upgrade aside, the answer to this question lies in what you want from your internet connection. Fast internet will do things such as stream high-quality videos without buffering, play high-graphics games with the lowest latency, and use several devices without having to worry about a slowdown in your connection speed. It will understandably be tempting to get a 5G connection maybe because of curiosity or because of peer pressure. However, you have to decide whether you need it or not. 

5G will provide the bandwidth and latency to enjoy uninterrupted access to services such as high-definition video streaming, mobile gaming, and video calling on the go. A consumer survey of Indian smartphone users showed that 42 percent believed faster network speeds would most improve their mobile service, followed by a more reliable connection and better indoor coverage. The spectrum that Indian operators acquired at auction, across the prize C-band and sub-1GHz will offer a blend of high capacity and coverage. In terms of top-line speeds, an analysis of other 5G markets shows that 5G speeds are between 7-10 times higher than 4G.

And if you are willing to upgrade, make sure you look for incentives to do so — much likereasons4G was introduced in India. One of the reasons behind the aggressive pricing of tariffs is the competition, but it has reduced since then. The market dynamics have also changed. Both these factors, combined with the demand for 5G, will affect the incentivisation of 5G services.

When Reliance Jio launched in 2016, it offered free voice and data on its new 4G network for almost 6 months, in a bid to disrupt the market and gain share. A lot has changed since then, with prices stabilizing and consolidation reducing the number of competitors. As Indian operators look to establish early 5G leads, we’d expect to see attractive 5G upgrade offers hit the market. Jio has even confirmed that it is working on a 5G smartphone, which will likely push the boundary in terms of affordable 5G devices, helping to spur adoption.

Is my phone 5G ready?

There is a simple way to check if your phone supports 5G or not. While chances are that it will, considering the first 5G phone landed in India back in 2019, you can always go to your phone’s network settings and look for supported networks or preferred network type for your SIM card. If it says 5G anywhere, your phone supports 5G. Most Android phones, as well as the latest iPhones (iPhone 12 and later upgrades), support 5G, and their market distribution is favourable for the rollout.

According to a survey by Ookla, Indians are testing the speed of their mobile internet connection using a 5G phone. The survey found out that many Indian users are already running the Speedtest app using 5G-capable devices, indicating that for a significant proportion of users, a 5G upgrade could be as simple as purchasing a new mobile plan, and avoiding a costly handset upgrade. 5G is a staple feature of not only flagship devices but also mid-tier devices today.

But if you do not see 5G mentioned anywhere in your phone’s mobile data network settings, your phone is not 5G supported, in which case you should go shopping. Customers can find attractive offers on 5G handsets during this festival season.

Do I need a 5G phone?

5G will be available across different Indian cities and towns by next year, but right now, only the metro cities will get the coverage. If you live in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru you should buy a 5G phone if you want to experience faster internet speeds. Other cities, such as Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, and Gurugram will get 5G connectivity sometime later. So, if you live in one of these cities, buying a 5G phone makes sense. But if you live in a location that is not a part of the immediate roadmap, you can hold off until the announcement.

While 5G’s launch is imminent according to prime minister Narendra Modi, it will take operators time to expand the coverage of their 5G networks. The DoT has outlined a list of thirteen cities where 5G will launch first. Expect coverage in large cities first, as operators work down the list of targets based on anticipated return on investment. Jio already claims to have completed 5G coverage planning in the top 100 Indian cities, while Airtel has ambitious plans to cover all towns and cities, including rural areas, by 2024.

What are my options?

Brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, POCO, Realme, and Vivo are leading the 5G smartphone market across price ranges. With strategic tie-ups with 5G chipset makers, MediaTek and Qualcomm, OEMs have been able to offer 5G smartphones in India for as low as Rs 15,000. And while that is promising for quick adoption of 5G services, brands such as Realme have promised to launch 5G phones for under Rs 10,000.

These handset manufacturers are working closely with leading chipset makers to bring powerful 5G processors to young users. 5G being yet another disruption in the communications industry, they are on top of 5G. They aim to democratize 5G technology further so that the masses can experience the technology.

What should I look for while buying my 5G phone?

The most important thing to look for here is 5G, obviously, but that should not be the only criterion to buy your next phone. 5G is ubiquitous on phones today — with the word “5G” printed on retail boxes, so you are unlikely to leave out 5G as a feature on your phone. So, let us talk about the things that you should pay attention to.

A 5G-ready phone is not enough. You need to check what 5G bands your phone supports and that information is easily available on the retail box of the phone. You have three bands in the 5G spectrum that telecom companies have acquired: low-band, mid-band, and high-band. The low band has a 700MHz spectrum, also known as n28, while the mid-band has 3500MHz, called n78. Nearly every 5G phone supports the n78 band, but you are likely to find n28 in more expensive 5G phones. That is because 700MHz is meant for standalone 5G services, or SA 5G, which only Reliance Jio will be able to offer. The high-band has a 26GHz spectrum called mmWave and n258. A handful of phones will support n258 since it is mmWave connectivity is unlikely to be available to consumers, at least initially.

5G aside, you have other specifications to consider. The display, the processor, the camera, and the battery — each has its own importance per your needs from your phone. If you are into binge-watching, buy a phone that has a good display and loud speakers. If you are hooked on gaming, go for a phone with a fast processor, a smooth display, and a thermal cooling system. If you are going to use the internet a lot, display and battery are the important things to consider.

“Consumers should also focus on basics like processor, camera, battery size, and charger for a complete package. These features will accentuate the 5G experience as users get higher internet speed and can manage multiple functionalities better,” said the Xiaomi spokesperson.

Realme’s Sheth echoed the same sentiment, saying, “When it comes to buying 5G smartphones it’s not about the network only, it is also about the experience and enhanced performance a 5G smartphone has to offer to users. As the 5G ecosystem evolves, the smartphone form factors will change along with the environment. Consumers, for instance, favour a svelte, light, and compact structure. Even though 5G smartphones integrate additional components like antennas etc, the design and build quality are also of enormous importance.”

How fast will be 5G?

While 5G networks around the world have managed to deliver speeds of over 1Gbps to customers, Indian telcos have promised a manifold increase in download and upload speeds over 4G.

5G speeds will also depend on your location, besides the operator. Jio has acquired additional spectrum in many circles, so you are likely to get better connectivity and speeds in these locations.

Differences in spectrum holdings, network infrastructure, and rollout strategies mean that 5G performance between operators will diverge. Understanding the top performing 5G network in your region will be critical to ensuring you have the best experience for network-intensive activities.