5G services to roll out in India on October 1: Likely tariffs, availability and more – Times of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 5G services on October 1 at the sixth edition of Indian Mobile Congress (IMC 2022) 10 AM scheduled to be held in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. 5G technology promises to offer seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency, and reliable communications to mobile users in India. Two of the biggest telecom service providers in the country Airtel and Reliance Jio have announced that they will start 5G services this year, however, so far there is no clarity on the tariffs and from when users will be able to get access to 5G services. Here’s a ready reckoner on 5G services rollout in the country.
What is 5G?
5G is the next generation mobile network capability that can facilitate transmission of a large set of data at a high speed. 5G has a low latency (efficiency to process a certain volume of data with a minimal delay) as compared to 3G and 4G, and will enhance user experiences in various sectors. 5G has the potential to be up to 10 times faster than 4G. The 5G rollout is also expected to bring more development in remote data monitoring in sectors such as mining, warehousing, telemedicine, and manufacturing, among others. Other sectors where 5G will benefit customers is edge computing.

Who will launch 5G services in India?
The telecom giants, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea took part in the mega auction for spectrum that concluded on August 1 where they bid for a combined value of Rs 1.56 lakh crore. Various previous reports suggest that Airtel and Jio will be the front-runners in launching 5G services in India. The companies will initially launch 5G in a few cities across the country, these include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. This means that not all users will get access to the 5G service this year.
What will be the tariff for 5G services?
The telecom giants have not revealed the pricing details but they will be on par with that of 4G prepaid plans, as per Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister. Once 5G is rolled out properly, people will have 5G tariff plans just like 4G plans. At a recent JP Morgan investor summit, Bharti Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal said that the company sees average revenue per user (ARPU) growth via tariff hikes as its primary engine of 5G monetisation in the near term and is not too worried about consumer acceptance as telecoms is an essential service.
The telecom carriers in India are expected to invest around $19.5 billion in the development of advanced infrastructure for 5G by 2025, according to a report. Recently, GMR group that runs Delhi Airport has announced that the passengers can avail 5G connectivity on the airport once these services are rolled out by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
Will 4G SIM work in a 5G phone
In order to get 5G connectivity, one must have a 5G-enabled smartphone/ tablet. A report says that 9.7% of smartphones in use in India are 5G-capable. When 4G was launched, telecom providers started disseminating 4G SIM cards to people in India. Thanks to the technology, we won’t be needing to line-up or apply for a new SIM to get benefits of 5G services.
A 4G SIM can work in 5G-powered phones, however, you won’t be able to leverage the 5G capabilities to the fullest. To enjoy the 5G network to its maximum potential, one is required to have a 5G SIM with a 5G phone.