Reliance Jio is reportedly planning to launch its 5G smartphones at ₹5,000 ($68.18) and reduce the price gradually to between ₹2,500 ($34.08) to ₹3,000 ($40.90) per unit. The Indian telecommunications company has stated that the gradual price reduction will follow the rapid scale-up of its operations. The new product launch is expected to cater to over 20-30 crore customers who are currently using a 2G connection.
Reliance Jio further cited that the company is planning to lower the price from the original rate to increasingly serve more customers The company declined to immediately respond to requests for comments on the upcoming 5G smartphone launch.
In India, 5G smartphones are available at the starting price of ₹27,000 ($368.08). Jio has emerged to be the 1st company to have launched 4G smartphones in the country for free; however, requiring the customers to pay a refundable deposit of ₹1,500 ($20.45) for a Jio Phone.
At RIL’s 43rd AGM (Annual General Meeting), Mukesh Ambani, the company’s managing director & chairman, has reportedly revealed plans to make India free of 2G connection and emphasized on the need for over 350 million Indian users, who currently use 2G feature smartphones, to shift to an affordable phone with 5G connection.
Recently, Mr. Ambani announced a ₹33,737 crore (over $4.6 billion) investment made by Google to acquire a 7.7% stake in Jio Platforms. The statement further revealed that the company will partner with this U.S. technology giant to develop an Android-based OS (operating system).
In addition, Reliance Jio is developing its own 5G network equipment and seeking for a range of testing from the Department of Telecom, prior to exporting the products. The government is yet to approve the request of the company.
Presently, there are no 5G services available in India and the government has not allocated the requirements to the telecom operators for conducting field trials, in order to promote the domestic ecosystem for the next-gen technology.
Source credit:
https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/telecom/reliance-jio-plans-to-sells-5g-smartphones-at-rs-2500-3000/story/419295.html
