Reliance Jio’s Jio AirFiber: Discounted FWA Device Launch Speculation

Reliance Jio’s Jio AirFiber: discounted FWA device launch speculation. Reliance Jio is preparing to launch its fixed wireless access, the device will come with a discount price.

Reliance Jio, a major player in India’s telecom market, is speculated to launch its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) offering, known as Jio AirFiber.

Insiders speculate that the official announcement could happen during the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Industry insiders and analysts told the media that the device could get up to 20% discount as compared to the existing options in the market.

The move reflects Jio’s primary attempt to leverage 5G technology for revenue after introducing data top packs earlier this year.

Testing is going on.

Jio has started consumer testing in cities where its 5G rollout has stabilized.

Selected users, including employees, have received the devices for testing in a home environment, a preparatory step for the upcoming launch.

Use of Carrier Aggregation Techniques.

Jio’s FWA device is expected to use carrier aggregation technology, which uses different 5G airwaves—700MHz, 3300MHz, and 26GHz—secured in last year’s auction.

Airtel is also in the race.

Earlier this month, Bharti Airtel introduced its FWA Xstream AirFiber in Mumbai and Delhi, priced at Rs 2500, with a monthly subscription cost of Rs 799.

The Airtel subscription requires a commitment of six months, which would mean an initial investment of around Rs 7,300 by the customers.

Reliance Jio’s Jio AirFiber: Why fixed wireless access will be started.

Jio’s initial steps towards FWA included enterprise connectivity through the 26 GHz frequency band it will get during the July 2022 5G spectrum auction. However, the focus has now shifted to retail consumers.

The initial mention of this venture was made during the AGM of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in August last year.

Following this, the device was showcased at industry events, and management continually hinted at an upcoming launch during earnings calls.

RIL President Kiran Thomas recently emphasized the importance of FWA’s offering in growing the home broadband segment of the telecom. The target is to connect 100 million campuses.

Globally, FWA connections reached 100 million in 2022 and are projected to reach 300 million by the end of 2028, of which 80% will take advantage of 5G technology.

Given India’s substantial data consumption and vast geography, the report highlights India’s role as a key market for FWA adoption.