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Airtel 5G Plus vs Jio True 5G key differences

Airtel and Jio are two major telecommunications companies in India, and both have launched their 5G networks in many cities.

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Ayushi Singh
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Airtel is deploying its 5G Plus services on Non-standalone (NSA) infrastructure and Airtel has covered about 265 cities nationwide, whereas Reliance Jio is deploying its True 5G network on Standalone(SA)5G network and has introduced its services in nearly 300 cities nationwide so far.

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Airtel and Jio are two major telecommunications companies in India, and both have launched their 5G networks in many cities nationwide. 5G technology was first launched in the country in October, 2022 at IMC when PM Modi officially introduced 5G in India.

Airtel is deploying its 5G Plus services on Non-standalone (NSA) infrastructure and Airtel has covered about 265 cities nationwide, whereas Reliance Jio is deploying its True 5G network on Standalone(SA)5G network and has introduced its services in nearly 300 cities nationwide so far. While Jio is currently offering its Jio True 5G services via its invite-only Welcome Offer program. Here are some key differences between Airtel and Jio's 5G networks:

  1. Deployment Models: Jio is deploying its 5G network on Standalone (SA) model which comes with dedicated equipment and network functions. It requires a completely independent infrastructure setup and does not depend on 4G core infrastructure. Whereas Airtel is deploying its 5G network on Non-standalone (NSA) model, which is 5G network supported by 4G core infrastructure and does not require independent infrastructure facility.
  2. Network Speeds: The speeds of Airtel and Jio's 5G networks may vary depending on factors such as location, network congestion, and device capabilities. However, Airtel has claimed to have achieved speeds of over 1 Gbps in its 5G trials, while Jio has not yet released any official speed figures.
  3. Technology: Airtel is using the 5G New Radio (NR) technology for its network, 5G radios coupled with LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Network functions running on dedicated appliances, in some cases. While Jio is using a combination of 5G NR and its own indigenous technology, 5G radios coupled with cloud-native, service-based core network function. These network functions are completely virtualised and cloud-native.
  4. Devices: Both Airtel and Jio have partnered with device manufacturers to launch 5G-compatible smartphones, but Airtel has a wider range of 5G devices available on its network.

Overall, both Airtel and Jio are expected to compete fiercely in the 5G market in India, with both companies looking to capture a significant market share. It remains to be seen which company will ultimately come out on top in this race.

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