In a strategic move aimed at asserting dominance within the broadband market, Jio Platforms has announced the imminent launch of AirFiber, a state-of-the-art wireless plug-and-play 5G hotspot. This pioneering move underscores the Indian telecom giant’s relentless pursuit of expanding its 5G user base while concurrently endeavoring to supplant conventional wired broadband connections. The much-anticipated device is slated for release on September 19, with pricing details yet to be unveiled.
Reliance Industries chairman, Mukesh Ambani, articulated the groundbreaking implications of AirFiber’s introduction, stating, “Jio AirFiber has the potential to elevate our expansion efforts tenfold, enabling us to scale our connectivity to an astounding 150,000 connections daily. This transformative leap augments our addressable market over the forthcoming triennial to encompass more than 200 million high-end residences and premises.”
AirFiber synergizes with the Jio Home app, affording users seamless control over Wi-Fi access, including management, allocation, and restrictions. Further augmenting the offering is Reliance’s cutting-edge AI-driven Proactive Quality Monitoring feature, engineered to autonomously optimize the Wi-Fi network based on user behavior, thereby preemptively mitigating potential disruptions.
In a compelling market dynamic, Jio’s arch-competitor, Bharti Airtel, recently riposted with the unveiling of Xstream AirFiber, a countermeasure to Jio’s innovation. Bharti Airtel’s counterpart features a 100 Mbps monthly plan available for approximately $10 per month, with a six-month commitment accompanied by a refundable security deposit exceeding $30.
Having launched its 5G services in India last year, Jio has garnered a substantial subscriber base of over 50 million, effectively enveloping more than 96% of the nation’s census towns. The company’s audacious aspiration is to extend its cutting-edge cellular network to “every town” in India by the culmination of 2023. Jio currently boasts an impressive user base of over 450 million, with each subscriber consuming an average of 25GB of data per month, a revelation unveiled during the conglomerate’s annual meeting.
