Reliance Jio, India’s largest private telecom company, has achieved a dominant 60% market share in data traffic, driven by its extensive 5G network rollout and high-speed internet services. The company, led by Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, has transformed India from a ‘Data Dark’ nation to a ‘Data Rich’ one, boasting the highest average per capita data usage.
BSNL is gearing up for its 5G launch, having completed its first 5G call and undergoing network testing. The launch is expected soon, potentially by the end of July, with plans for a future 6G rollout. Despite recent price hikes by competitors, BSNL’s current recharge plans remain competitively priced.
Government-owned telecom company BSNL is set to disrupt India’s telecom market by launching 5G services, challenging the dominance of Reliance Jio and Airtel. BSNL’s partnership with startups and companies promises more affordable options for consumers.
Qualcomm introduces the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, a new entry-level smartphone chip aimed at expanding 5G accessibility in budget Android phones. This chip boasts faster connectivity, improved camera capabilities, and a slightly downgraded performance compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. While featuring a 90Hz refresh rate and LPDDR4X RAM, it offers 1 Gbps downlink speeds, video stabilization, and multi-frame noise reduction for enhanced media capture. The chip also supports Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio, Aqstic audio codec, and dual-frequency GPS, making it a compelling option for budget phone manufacturers seeking to deliver a more feature-rich experience.
Apple will finally be using its own 5G modem in two upcoming iPhones: the iPhone SE 4 and a new ultra-slim iPhone 17 model. The move marks a significant step for Apple, which has long relied on Qualcomm for its 5G chipsets. However, the transition to Apple’s in-house 5G chips will be gradual, with the company initially deploying them in select models before expanding their use to the entire iPhone lineup in the years ahead.
The Unihertz Jelly Max is a compact phone with a 5.05-inch screen, offering a refreshing alternative to large-screen devices. Despite its small size, it packs a punch with 5G connectivity, a powerful camera setup, and impressive specs, including a 100MP main camera, a 3.4x optical zoom telephoto lens, and a 32MP selfie camera. However, the phone’s thickness stands out, making it a unique and potentially bulky option for those seeking a smaller phone.
Reliance Jio, the telecom giant owned by Mukesh Ambani, has achieved a new milestone, becoming the world’s largest data consumer, surpassing even Chinese rivals. The company’s quarterly results reveal an astounding 44 exabytes of data consumption, driven by a massive user base of 49 crore subscribers, including 13 crore 5G users. Despite this achievement, Jio lags behind China in 5G services.
T-Mobile has announced its acquisition of US Cellular, a regional carrier known for its strong presence in rural areas. The deal, valued at $4.4 billion, will allow T-Mobile to enhance its 5G network coverage in underserved regions, adding to its existing nationwide reach. US Cellular customers will have the option to transition to T-Mobile’s plans, with no switching costs or forced migrations. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2025 subject to regulatory approval.
At MWC 2023, Cisco, Qualcomm, and Fira Barcelona discussed the latest advancements in Wi-Fi technology. With its 25th anniversary this year, Wi-Fi remains essential for modern businesses, and the industry is constantly evolving to meet the growing demands for speed, capacity, and reliability. The latest versions of Wi-Fi, including Wi-Fi6E and Wi-Fi7, are bringing new features and capabilities that are transforming Wi-Fi beyond traditional connectivity. The roundtable discussion highlighted the importance of Wi-Fi coexistence with 5G, the use of Wi-Fi as a sensor network, and emerging applications that are being enabled by the latest Wi-Fi advancements.
2024 is poised to be a pivotal year for 5G technology, a transformative force that promises to enhance efficiency, productivity, and reach across various industries. From government and education to healthcare, travel, agriculture, fintech, retail, and more, 5G offers a multitude of benefits, including faster speeds, lower latency, and enhanced connections.
