Reliance Jio to become World’s Largest 5G Standalone Company

Reliance Jio, the country’s largest telecom company, can achieve another major achievement this year. It is expected to become the world’s largest standalone 5G network company. Reliance Jio has been rapidly expanding its high-speed network since the launch of 5G services in the country last year.

The company’s President Mathew Oommen said that India needs holistic growth and Jio will continue to contribute to it. “In the second half of this year, Jio will become the largest standalone 5G network operator in the world,” he added. Jio’s focus is on launching a 5G standalone network, while second largest telecom company Bharti Airtel’s emphasis is on a 5G non-standalone network, in which a mix of 5G and 4G services can be provided. Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal said earlier this week that mobile call and data rates will be increased this year. He said that the return on investment in the telecom business is very low.

Reliance Jio last month announced the expansion of its high-speed 5G network to 20 cities in 11 states and union territories. With this, the company’s 5G services have become available in 277 cities. Telecom companies started these services from October last year. A company spokesperson had said, “We are proud to introduce 5G services in 20 cities across 11 states and union territories.” He said that these cities are important in terms of tourism, trade and education.

The central government had issued spectrum allocation letters to telecom companies in August last year and asked them to prepare to launch 5G services in the country. The Telecom Department had received bids worth about Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the 5G spectrum auction. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have set a target of converting 150 million mobile phone users to 5G by March next year. These companies can invest Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the next financial year. Reliance Jio has to pay Rs 87,946 crore for the spectrum over a period of 20 years.