Friends, it’s been two years since 5G came to India. In 2022, we welcomed 5G with high hopes. But looking back, has it really changed our lives as much as we expected? Let’s talk about it.
When 5G arrived, telecom companies like Vodafone Idea, Airtel, and Jio acquired the necessary spectrum. Jio and Airtel started their 5G services in 2022, with Jio opting for a standalone network that doesn’t rely on 4G, while Airtel chose a non-standalone network. Vodafone Idea also planned to launch 5G but hasn’t made it available yet. So, for now, we have Airtel and Jio offering 5G commercially.
India has a whopping 450,000 5G towers, which is quite impressive. In fact, India’s 5G rollout was one of the fastest in the world. However, despite these achievements, 5G hasn’t had the impact many expected. We hoped it would be as revolutionary as Jio’s 4G launch in 2016, but that hasn’t been the case.
One of the main benefits of 5G is faster download speeds. If you have a 5G phone and a good network, you can achieve speeds of up to 1Gbps. But this isn’t consistent everywhere. Sometimes Airtel provides better speeds, sometimes Jio, and sometimes neither. While download speeds have improved, upload speeds haven’t seen much change, often still relying on 4G.
We were also promised lower latency, meaning faster response times for online activities. However, in reality, the difference in latency hasn’t been significant. Additionally, the millimeter wave 5G, which was part of the spectrum auction, isn’t widely available yet.
Interestingly, telecom companies are still offering 5G for free. Reports suggest this might change soon, with paid plans on the horizon. But the big question is, will people be willing to pay extra for 5G? So far, 5G hasn’t solved any major problems for users. Expectations were high, with promises of self-driving cars, connected home devices, and a fully integrated 5G network. But in reality, these things haven’t materialized.
One successful application of 5G has been fixed wireless access, known as Air Fiber. Both Jio and Airtel launched Air Fiber equipment to provide high-speed internet where traditional fiber cables can’t reach. While this is a promising use case, it hasn’t been as reliable as regular fiber broadband. Regular fiber broadband still offers better consistency and quality.
In India, the fixed broadband sector is doing quite well. Fiber penetration is good, and many local providers offer high-speed broadband. Companies like Jio and Airtel provide speeds up to 1Gbps, and the quality of fixed broadband has improved significantly.
However, on mobile phones, the situation is different. People expected that buying a new 5G phone would bring a noticeable difference in their internet experience. While 5G can offer faster speeds for downloads and speed tests, it hasn’t provided new uses that justify paying extra for 5G. The everyday tasks people do on their phones — watching videos, gaming, and downloading — can still be done well with a stable 4G connection. Many people prefer using Wi-Fi at home, even with 5G available.
Even in other countries like Korea, Japan, and Singapore, where 5G was rolled out before India, telecom operators faced similar issues. People were not willing to pay much more for 5G, and the average revenue didn’t increase significantly.
Vodafone Idea, for example, has focused on improving its 4G network instead of rushing into 5G, knowing that 5G might not create a revolution like 4G did. They plan to bring 5G eventually, but the impact may not be as dramatic.
As Jio and Airtel introduce paid 5G plans, it will be interesting to see how many people opt for them. Companies might have to offer flexible plans where users can switch between 4G and 5G. The amount of data available in these plans will also be crucial because high-speed 5G can quickly consume data allowances.
Overall, the story of 5G in India shows that while there have been improvements and advancements, the expected revolution hasn’t happened yet. There are over 200 telecom companies worldwide offering 5G, but none have made 5G indispensable. Jio is one of the few using a standalone network, and Airtel might roll out its standalone network this year, which could bring new developments.
As we look to the future, we’ll see how 5G evolves and what new uses emerge. It’s been two years of changes and advancements, but there’s still much to be discovered about 5G’s true potential.
Do you use 5G? Or do you still rely on Wi-Fi at home? Share your thoughts in the comments!