Apple, Samsung, and other mobile phone manufacturers will be required to prioritize installing software upgrades to support 5G in India, despite concerns that many of their models aren''t ready for the recently launched high-speed service.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 5G services on October 1 as a result of widespread fanfare, with Reliance Jio, a leading telecom company, declaring that the service would be available in four cities, while Bharti Airtel, in eight. Both companies said the service would be expanded next year.
According to three industry sources and Airtel''s website, Apple''s iPhone models, including the latest iPhone 14, and many of Samsung''s first smartphones do not have software compatible with 5G support in India.
According to a government document, top bureaucrats from India''s telecoms and IT departments will chair a meeting on Wednesday to allow for early 5G adoption. Applicants are asked for smartphone executives from international companies like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as domestic telecom operators Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to be present.
The agenda includes discussions to "prioritize" and release software upgrades for assisting the high-speed network, according to the letter for the closed-door meeting.
Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as the three domestic telecom operators, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government''s IT and telecom departments also did not respond.
- Apple May Soon Add 5G Support for iPhone Models in India
India has said that the introduction of 5G in the world''s largest mobile market - after China - will deliver high-speed internet to consumers, delivering significant socio-economic benefits in sectors such as agriculture and health.
Jio, India''s largest mobile airline, sold $11 billion in a $19 billion (roughly Rs. 1.6 lakh crore)5G spectrum auction. Airtel spent $5 billion (roughly Rs. 41,000 crore) while Vodafone went above $2 billion (roughly Rs. 16,500 crore).
While telecom companies and smartphone firms have been working together, it''s time to figure out which 5G technology are used by telecom companies in India and which is compatible with mobile software, according to one of the industry sources.
Airtel''s website on Tuesday showed "Apple yet to update software" for all Apple iPhones'' 12 to 14 models under its 5G compatibility section. A lot of models were not ready for Samsung, according to Airtel, while more than three dozen models of China''s Xiaomi and Vivo were shown as ready for use with its 5G service.
Apple and Airtel have had discussions over this for a while. "Apple has taken a lot of time. Airtel has been concerned about this as many of their premium customers are on Apple devices," said a second industry source with direct knowledge of the situation. Apple and Airtel have also called for discussions.
Apple is on the verge of testing and validation of different 5G offerings from network providers in India, according to a third source with direct knowledge of the issue.
2022 Thomson Reuters