5G Rollout: Apple and Samsung to update phones with 5G connectivity quickly
According to reports, the government has scheduled talks with phone manufacturers “to prioritise” and release software upgrades to support the high-speed network.
The Indian government will pressure Apple, Samsung, and other mobile phone manufacturers to prioritize software upgrades to support 5G in the country amid concerns that many of their models are not ready for the recently launched high-speed service.
On October 1, PM Narendra Modi launched 5G services amid much fanfare. With leading telecom operator Reliance Jio announcing. That the service would be available in four cities and rival Bharti Airtel in eight.
Both companies stated that the service would be expanded the following year.
However, according to three industry sources and Airtel’s website, Apple’s iPhone models. Including the latest iPhone 14, and many of Samsung’s premier phones do not have software compatible with supporting 5G in India.
Concerned about this, top bureaucrats from India’s telecoms and IT departments will convene a meeting for early 5G adoption on Wednesday. Inviting smartphone executives from Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as domestic telecom operators Jio, Airtel. And Vodafone Idea, according to a government document seen by Reuters.
The agenda for the closed-door meeting includes discussions “to prioritise” also the release of software upgrades to support the high-speed network, according to the notice for the meeting.
Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as the three domestic telecom operators, did not respond immediately.
The government’s IT and telecommunications departments did not respond either.
India has stated that the launch of 5G in the world’s second-largest mobile market. After China, will provide consumers with high-speed internet while also providing socioeconomic benefits in sectors such as agriculture and health.
Jio, India’s largest mobile carrier with over 420 million customers, won $11 billion (roughly Rs. 90,600 crores) in a $19 billion (approximately Rs. 1.6 lakh crore) 5G spectrum auction in August. Airtel spent more than $5 billion (approximately Rs. 41,000 crores), while Vodafone spent more than $2 billion (roughly Rs. 16,500 crores).
