Reliance Jio will launch Jio Airfiber, a fixed wireless access device, with a 20% discount compared to market rates.
This device aims to generate revenue from 5G networks and is Reliance Jio’s first major attempt in this field.
Reliance Jio has started customer trials in cities where its 5G rollout is complete and stable.
The Jio FWA device will use carrier aggregation technology to create data pathways using different 5G airwaves.
Bharti Airtel has already launched its FWA offering, Xtreme Airfiber, in Mumbai and Delhi, with a device priced at Rs 2500 and a monthly subscription of Rs 799.
Reliance Jio is set to launch its fixed wireless access (FWA) device, Jio Airfiber, for retail customers with a discount of up to 20% compared to the market rate. This high-speed internet device is expected to create a buzz in the consumer market during the festive season. The official announcement of the device is expected on August 28th.
This move by Reliance Jio is aimed at monetizing the 5G technology. According to reports, this will be Jio’s first major attempt to generate revenue from 5G. Speculation is that the announcement might come during the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Jio has a history of launching new products with lucrative offers, and this time is expected to be no different.
Reliance Jio has reportedly started customer trials in cities where its 5G rollout has been completed and stabilized. Selected users, including employees, have been sent the devices for trial in a home environment. Jio’s FWA device will use carrier aggregation technology to create data pathways using different 5G airwaves, including the 700MHz, 3300MHz, and 26GHz frequencies acquired by Reliance Jio in the previous spectrum auction.
Bharti Airtel had already launched its FWA offering, Xtreme Airfiber, in Mumbai and Delhi earlier this month at a price of INR 2500. The subscription is priced at INR 799 per month. Airtel currently offers subscriptions for a limited period of six months, resulting in an initial investment of just INR 7300 for customers.
According to Swedish telecom infrastructure provider Ericsson, there were 100 million FWA connections at an international level in 2022, and this number is projected to reach 300 million by the end of 2028, with 80% of them utilizing 5G technology.
And, Reliance Jio’s launch of Jio Airfiber with discounted rates marks its first step towards monetizing 5G technology. With competitors like Airtel already in the FWA space, the race to capture the growing consumer base for high-speed internet services is gaining momentum.
