High speed internet, OTT apps, network reliability makes it attractive
Millions of customers migrate from DTH services
In an unprecedented shift, millions of Indians are turning their backs on traditional Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, opting instead for Fiber connections as their primary source of entertainment. Recent data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) highlights a dramatic downturn in DTH subscriptions, with over 13.20 lakh customers severing ties with their DTH providers in the last quarter alone.
The move towards Fiber connections signifies a profound change in the entertainment consumption habits of the Indian population. Unlike the DTH services, which have been criticized for their susceptibility to service disruptions caused by weather conditions and technical faults, Fiber connections offer a robust and reliable alternative. These connections not only guarantee uninterrupted service but also provide superior performance, making them an attractive option for consumers.
The rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) apps and platforms such as Jio Cinema and JioTV, have played a pivotal role in this transition. These platforms, accessible via Fiber connections, offer a rich array of content including live sports, the latest movies, and popular TV shows, catering to the varied tastes of Indian viewers. This seamless integration of internet and entertainment services through Fiber connections has particularly resonated with the country’s youth, who are at the forefront of adopting these modern entertainment solutions.
Statistics reveal that over 2.23 crore users have already made the switch to Fiber connections, underscoring the growing preference for internet-based entertainment platforms over traditional DTH services. This shift not only marks a significant transformation in how entertainment is consumed in India but also signals the decline of DTH services, once a staple in Indian households.
As the country continues to navigate through this entertainment evolution, the preference for Fiber connections over DTH services is a testament to the changing dynamics of the Indian entertainment landscape, heralding a new era where Fiber is king.
Jio Platforms Limited today announced plans to build a state-of-the-art cloud-based AI compute infrastructure to accelerate India’s position as a growing force in artificial intelligence, in collaboration with NVIDIA.
The new AI cloud infrastructure will enable researchers, developers, startups, scientists, AI practitioners and others across India to access accelerated computing and high-speed, secure cloud networking to run workloads safely and with extreme energy efficiency.
The new infrastructure will greatly speed up a wide range of India’s key initiatives and AI projects, including AI chatbots, drug discovery, climate research and more.
As part of the collaboration, NVIDIA will provide Jio with end-to-end AI supercomputer technologies including CPU, GPU, networking, and AI operating systems and frameworks for building the most advanced AI models. Jio will manage and maintain the AI cloud infrastructure and oversee customer engagement and access.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited, said on the partnership, “As India advances from a country of data proliferation to creating technology infrastructure for widespread and accelerated growth, computing and technology super centres like the one we envisage with NVIDIA will provide the catalytic growth just like Jio did to our nation’s digital march. I am delighted with the partnership with NVIDIA and looking forward to a purposeful journey together.”
Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, said, “At Jio, we are committed to fuelling India’s technological renaissance by democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies. Our collaboration with NVIDIA is a significant step in this direction. Together, we will develop an advanced AI cloud infrastructure that is secure, sustainable, and are deeply relevant to India’s unique opportunities. This state-of-the-art platform will be a catalyst in accelerating AI-driven innovations across sectors, from healthcare and education to enterprise solutions. Our vision is to make AI accessible to researchers, start-ups, and enterprises across the nation, thereby accelerating India’s journey towards becoming an AI powerhouse.”
“We are delighted to partner with Reliance to build state-of-the-art AI supercomputers in India,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “India has scale, data and talent. With the most advanced AI computing infrastructure, Reliance can build its own large language models that power generative AI applications made in India, for the people of India.”
Hyderabad, July 2023- As the monsoon season brings its share of challenges, Jio Fiber has come forward with an unparalleled offering to ensure uninterrupted entertainment and connectivity for its valued customers. The new Jio Fiber TV plan promises to deliver the most reliable and uninterrupted Cable TV and Internet service during this rainy season, making it the ideal choice for residents in Telangana.
Renowned as the best broadband provider across Telangana, Jio Fiber has once again raised the bar by launching its most affordable entertainment Jio TV plan starting at just Rs. 398 per month. This incredible plan boasts a myriad of benefits that will revolutionize the way customers experience entertainment and connectivity at home.
Key highlights of the Jio Fiber TV plan include:
750+ live TV channels covering a diverse range of genres to cater to every member of the family.
Access to 14 of the most popular premium OTT platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Hot Star, SunNxt, SonyLiv, Zee5, and more, at absolutely no extra cost. Customers can now binge-watch their favourite shows and movies without any constraints.
Complementary Internet plan with unlimited data, ensuring seamless streaming and browsing experiences.
A free landline with unlimited calls, allowing customers to stay connected with their loved ones without worrying about call charges.
To sweeten the deal even further, Jio Fiber is introducing an exclusive Monsoon Offer. Customers availing the Monsoon Offer will receive a Free 4K Set-Top Box, along with a Free Giga Router worth Rs. 10,000, making their home entertainment setup even more advanced and enjoyable. Additionally, there will be Zero Installation charges and Zero deposit to remove any barriers for customers to embrace the Jio Fiber experience. The Monsoon Offer comes with a simple requirement – customers need to opt for an advance recharge for a period of 6 months, unlocking the full potential of this incredible offer.
With Jio Fiber’s commitment to providing top-notch services and unmatched value, customers can now brave the rainy season outside while enjoying non-stop entertainment inside their homes.
So why wait? Embrace the future of entertainment and connectivity with Jio Fiber’s new TV plan. To know more and subscribe, visit your nearest Jio Store or log on to http://www.jio.com/fiber.
Apple BKC– India’s first Apple store- is about to open to the public in April at Jio World Drive Mall, Mumbai. The Cupertino-based tech giant is clear about one thing: consistent customer experience around the world. This means you can expect the same experience irrespective of whether you visit the Apple store in New York, San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore or even Mumbai.
No ‘salesperson’ to judge your pockets. No cash counters. It doesn’t matter whether you buy something or not. It’s perfectly fine if you haven’t used any Apple device ever. Or, maybe you just want to learn photography skills. Everyone is welcome at an Apple store.
An Apple store is a place where the latest technology from the company meets the local art. While the product buying experience, layout, look-and-feel is similar across all stores around the world, Apple pays extra attention to the community they are serving by integrating local art, heritage and experiences.
Singapore, which has less than half the population of India’s bustling city of Mumbai, has three Apple stores- Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi. If you happen to visit all the three stores in Singapore in a day, you will notice that the experience is nearly identical yet each of them are completely different in terms of design, narrating a unique story. In Mumbai, the Apple BKC is inspired by the iconic ‘Kaali Peeli taxi’ art.
The entire purpose of an Apple store is to attract people and make them experience products. The retail philosophy is more towards educating people than making them buy. And the attention to details is something only Apple can do. The height of desks, the angles at which devices are placed, the lighting and the entire setting is such that visitors can comfortably focus on the device they want to try out. There’s free WiFi, so visitors can thoroughly check out the device and spend as much time as they want to. And if they like something, there’s no need to queue at any cash counter, because there aren’t any cash counters inside any Apple store. You simply have to ask an Apple team member for the bill and make the payment. (Source: Reuters/News18)
Reliance Jio on Thursday announced that users of iphone 12 and above would get the Jio True 5G services with unlimited data, starting today.
Users need to update to the latest iPhone iOS and carrier settings. The company has provided Jio Welcome Offer on users numbers to enable unlimited 5G usage. Owners of iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2022 (3rd gen), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max can access Jio’s 5G services from today.
In the first week of November, Apple started rolling out of update that would make its iPhone devices back 5G connectivity in India to the company’s beta software platforms. Apple on November 11 confirmed that it started rolling out the iOS 16 Beta Software Program.
Jio asked users should update device software to iOS 16.2 or later, then trun on 5G from settings and finally turn on 5G Standalone.
Realme has just unveiled the Realme 10 Pro series in India. The series brings two new smartphones to the market, including the Realme 10 Pro and Realme 10 Pro+. Both are 5G enabled and will support Jio’s 5G standalone (SA) networks out of the box. Both the devices pack powerful 5G processors and will also run on Realme UI 4.0 out of the box. Realme and Jio have collaborated deeply for this launch, and there are multiple True 5G experience zones set up at Realme showrooms so that everyone can experience the new era of connectivity that the Realme 10 Pro series brings.
The Realme 10 Pro+ 5G comes with support for seven 5G bands, while the Realme 10 Pro will support five 5G bands. Realme 10 Pro+ 5G supports the following 5G bands – SA: n40/n41/n78/n1/n3/n5/n8/n28A and NSA: n1/n3/n41/n77/n78.
Realme 10 Pro 5G will support the following 5G bands – SA: n1/n5/n8/n28A/n41/n78 and NSA: n41/n77/n78.
The Realme 10 Pro+ 5G comes with a flagship-level 6.7-inch 120Hz Curved Vision Display with India’s first 2160Hz PWM dimming. It has the world’s first OLED display to get the TUV Rheinland Flicker Free certificate. The device comes with a 5000mAh battery with support for 67W fast-charging. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device comes with a triple-camera setup at the rear with a 108MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 2MP macro camera. At the front, there’s a 16MP in-display selfie sensor. The device comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Post the successful Beta-launch of Jio True-5G services in six cities, namely, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Varanasi and Nathdwara, Jio is extending Jio True-5G’s reach across more cities, namely Bengaluru & Hyderabad. JioTrue5G, in these two tech-centric cities will help realize the true potential of some of the latest technologies that will serve humanity and improve the quality of life of Indians.
Being a customer-obsessed organization, Jio is rolling out its advanced True-5G services in a phase-wise manner, to ensure the best customer experience. JioTrue5G is already being experienced by Lakhs of users across six cities, response to which is extremely positive and reassuring. Customer insights and feedback is helping Jio build, what is, and will be, the most advanced 5G network globally.
Jio users are experiencing speeds anywhere between 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps on their smartphones and are using very high quantities of data, seamlessly, thanks to Jio True-5G’sthree-fold advantage that makes it the only TRUE 5G network in India:
Stand-alone 5G architecture with advanced 5G network with Zero dependency on 4G network.
The largest and best mix of 5G spectrum across 700 MHz, 3500 MHz, and 26 GHz bands.
Carrier Aggregation that seamlessly combines these 5G frequencies into a single robust “data highway” using an advanced technology called Carrier Aggregation.
Starting 10th November, Jio users in Bengaluru and Hyderabad will be invited to the Jio Welcome Offer, to experience Unlimited Data at up to 1 Gbps+ speeds, at no additional cost.
• A robotic arm that will perform ultrasound • The robot will deliver medicine and food to the patient’s bed
Reliance Jio has introduced a 5G connected ambulance at the Indian Mobile Congress. This is such an ambulance which will digitally deliver all the important information of the patient to the hospital in real time and that too before the patient reaches the hospital. In the event of a medical emergency, the doctor present at the hospital can make all necessary medical arrangements before the patient arrives. You can guess how much the medical industry will change in the future by looking at this ambulance.
The Jio Pavilion will also feature a robotic arm that specializes in X-rays and ultrasounds. In fact, a radiologist or sonographer sitting hundreds of miles away can easily run it through Jio True 5G. This robotic arm will directly connect city-based radiologists with rural patients. For basic medical needs like X-ray and ultrasound, villagers will no longer have to go around the city and the report will also be available at home.
Reliance is launching 5G service on Diwali. Relying on the high speed and low-latency of its True 5G network, Reliance Jio is also working on many technical solutions that will come in handy in everyday life. One of them is Jio 5G Healthcare Automation. Many frontline workers lost their lives in isolation wards of hospitals during the Kovid epidemic. Reliance Jio is working on the technology of 5G controlled robots which will be able to deliver medicines and food to isolation wards as well as other patients.
Due to the use of cloud based 5G controlled robots the margin of error will be zero. With a robot fleet management system, their maintenance and sanitization will also be easier than humans and most importantly, the lives of thousands of frontline workers and patients can be saved.
While India is awaiting the launch of 5G services by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 1st 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.
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.
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