While India is awaiting the launch of 5G services by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 1^st at India Mobile Congress (IMC) in New Delhi, Reliance Jio is all set to deliver its promise of ‘True 5G’ services to its customers.

Jio 5G promises to be a stand-alone 5G network, which is not the case with most 5G networks available in the world right now. Most operators rely on the non-standalone 5G network, which basically transmits 5G radio signals over an existing 4G network. Following this methodology is unlikely to give improved performance to the users.

Jio 5G will be called a stand-alone 5G network that will have zero dependency on its 4G network. The True 5G network can offer powerful services and deliver performance at low latency, ideal for massive machine-to-machine communication, deliver 5G voice, edge computing and network slicing, and metaverse, among others.

Jio has planned its True 5G network in a calculated manner, which started by acquiring the largest and the most appropriate mix of wireless spectrum for 5G. Jio has acquired 5G spectrums in the 3500 MHz mid-band segment, which is globally earmarked for 5G, and the 26 GHz millimeter-wave band for ultra-high capacity. But where Jio 5G becomes a True 5G network is thanks to the 700 MHz low-band spectrum which is essential for deep indoor coverage.

“Three-fold advantage of Stand-Alone 5G architecture, largest and best mix of spectrum, and Carrier Aggregation means that Jio 5G will be able to offer an unparalleled combination of coverage, capacity, quality, and affordability,” Reliance Industries Chairman, Mukesh Ambani highlighted during the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Addressing shareholders he said, Jio 5G will be the world’s largest and most advanced 5G network as the carrier is planning to deploy the latest version of 5G, called Stand Alone 5G, that will have no dependency on its 4G network.

In contrast, rivals are looking at Non-Stand Alone 5G, which was called a “hasty way to nominally claim’’ a 5G launch.

Jio was the only carrier to have acquired expensive spectrum in the 700 MHz band by spending almost 40,000 crore rupees in an auction earlier this year, when no other rival thought the airwaves were worth the money.

The 700 MHz band provides better network coverage due to low frequency and has the ability to penetrate buildings efficiently. This will enable it to offer better, stable and faster connectivity in dense urban areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, etc, experts said.

The acquisition of pan-India 700 MHz band by Jio has also been targeted at attracting high end users to its network aiming to become the primary SIM for them. The driving factor for high average revenue per user (ARPU) users will be an offer of better voice call quality indoors and differentiated 5G offerings. Jio is working with Google to develop an ultra-low cost 5G smartphone which will further strengthen the offerings of the largest telecom player.

Stand Alone 5G vs Non-Stand Alone 5G

Jio is betting that a Stand Alone network with its 700 MHz band will ensure better consumer experience which could drive higher revenue market share and reduce network operating costs. It also has long-term advantages like superior quality ultra-low latency 5G experience and differentiated and wider range of applications particularly for the key enterprise segment.

For Jio, a launch in sub-GHz bands will ensure better consumer experience which could drive higher revenue market share and reduce network operating costs. It also has long-term advantages like superior quality ultra-low latency 5G experience and differentiated and wider range of applications particularly for the key enterprise segment.

This could help the company to poach high-end customers from its competitors – likely increasing competition at the high end, analysts observe.

Also, it costs less to provide broadband services in the 700 MHz band as compared to, say, the 2,100 MHz band. A sub-GHz band— bands below 1000 MHz—offers better coverage with speed without consuming much power.

Jio will be launching 5G services in key cities including metro cities by Diwali with a gradual expansion month-on-month and by the end of December 2023, every part of the country will be covered with Jio 5G. It has announced an investment of Rs 2 lakh crore to build Jio 5G.