Following the launch of its 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service, Jio AirFiber, by Reliance Jio, a leading telecom service provider in India;

Pradeepthi Kantipudi, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:

“The innovative service is now available in eight Indian cities, offering high-speed connectivity of up to 1 Gbps. With approximately 80% of data consumption occurring indoors, Jio is strategically targeting this segment through its JioAirFiber service proposition, which combines digital entertainment, high-speed broadband, and smart home solutions. JioAirFiber simplifies connectivity for homes and offices, enabling seamless linking of multiple devices like smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart TVs, and set-top boxes. Additionally, this 5G FWA service is also capable of addressing the connectivity demands for cloud PCs, security and surveillance, and smart home IoT, among others.

“With its high speeds and low latency and plans starting from as low as $7.2 (INR 599), JioAirFiber serves as a substitute for wired broadband connections for homes as well as small and medium businesses. The lower costs and reduction in constraints in the last mile mean more homes and businesses will be able to get online, thereby helping to bridge the digital divide and transform the country into a premium digital society.

“The primary objective of the FWA solution is to provide internet access to consumers residing in areas with limited fiber coverage. This solution effectively resolves the last-mile connectivity challenge in both rural and urban regions of India, where access to fiber infrastructure is challenging. Furthermore, FWA stands out as a cost-effective approach, harnessing the potential of 5G mmWave technology to deliver fiber-like internet speeds wirelessly to homes and businesses across various settings, from rural to urban areas. This technology is also well-suited for serving institutions like schools, hospitals, and town halls, effectively addressing last-mile obstacles in rural areas.

“Earlier, in August 2023, Bharti Airtel also launched its 5G FWA service, Airtel Xstream AirFiber in select cities, with a monthly rental price of $9.6 (INR 799). This move by Jio highlights the growing interest among the telecom providers in FWA services as a means to extend broadband connectivity to underserved areas in the country and present an alternative to wired connectivity. The bundling of smart home services, digital channels, and OTT subscriptions is further expected to drive the adoption of this novel service in India.

“JioAirFiber and Airtel Xstream AirFiber are revolutionizing India’s broadband connectivity for both homes and businesses through 5G FWA. This advancement has the potential to generate new revenue streams for the Indian telecom industry, offering faster and more reliable internet access to residential and enterprise sectors.”