Indian carrier Reliance Jio Infocomm has partnered with Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus to successfully validate 5G network slicing technology at a new 5G innovation lab in India. This initiative marks a significant milestone in enhancing the 5G experience for smartphone users across India.
Network slicing is a groundbreaking technique that allows the division of a single physical network into multiple virtual ones, each tailored to specific requirements. In their recent test, OnePlus and Reliance Jio Infocomm demonstrated this capability using the OnePlus Nord 4 smartphone. By linking the core network to the device’s chip module, they created independent virtual networks with varying speed, bandwidth, security, and reliability levels. This technology ensures that different applications can access dedicated slices of the network.
Reliance Jio Infocomm aims to commercialize 5G network slicing in India soon. Both companies are committed to promoting innovation in this field and collaborating with global stakeholders to ensure widespread adoption.
Last month, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), highlighted Reliance Jio Infocomm’s nationwide 5G coverage. He stated that the company now serves over 130 million 5G users and operates more than 85% of India’s 5G radio cells. This extensive deployment allows Jio to shift focus from capital expenditure on 5G infrastructure to enhancing financial efficiency and scaling its user base while exploring new revenue streams.
Additionally, Ambani shared that JioAirFiber, the company’s 5G-based Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service launched in October 2023, has quickly gained traction. Within six months, it acquired 1 million customers and another million in just the following 100 days. The company targets adding 1 million home broadband customers each month.
Since October 2022, Reliance Jio Infocomm has been rapidly expanding its 5G network using Standalone (SA) architecture. In a recent spectrum auction, Jio acquired additional frequencies in the 1.8 GHz band in Bihar and West Bengal, increasing its spectrum footprint to 26,801 MHz.
The possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) in 2025 is also on the horizon. According to reports by Business Standard, brokerage firm Jefferies suggests that Jio could debut with a valuation around $112 billion, potentially boosting the share price of its parent company, Reliance Industries.
