Reliance Jio Rolls Out New 5.5G Network, Eyes Speeds Up To 10 Gbps

Telecom giant Reliance Jio has reportedly announced the launch of its new “5.5G” network in India, which the company is touting as a “significant upgrade” over its existing 5G network. 

As per India TV, the new 5.5G network will offer download speeds of up to 10 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps. During the launch event, Jio demonstrated the new network’s capabilities and achieved speeds exceeding 1,014 Mbps. 

The new offering also boasts lower latency, faster downloads, higher-quality streaming for 4K videos and stable performance even in crowded environments. The company claims that lower latency will enable online gamers to have a smoother and more responsive gameplay. 

The telecom operator claims that the new network deploys the component carrier aggregation (3CC) technology, which enables devices to connect to multiple towers simultaneously. This ensures faster data transfer and better call quality, especially in areas with high network congestion.

Developed in partnership with smartphone maker OnePlus, the new 5.5G network will look to enhance mobile internet experiences, especially online gaming and video calls. OnePlus 13 series smartphones, namely OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, will be the first devices to offer the new network. 

Notably, the telecom giant has introduced a new “5GA” icon, which will be displayed when devices are connected to the new 5.5G network. As per the report, the transition to the 5.5G network will be automatic and will not require any manual configuration by users.

It is pertinent to note that the 5.5G network is the next progression in the 5G technology, and offers higher speeds with lower latency and integrated intelligence. Telcos globally have already begun testing the new network and some telecom operators (such as Zain Kuwait and Bulgaria’s Vivacom) achieved speeds of up to 10 Gbps during successful trials. 

Back home, Bharti Airtel also inked a multi-year pact with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Nokia in November last year to deploy 4G and 5G equipment, taking another step towards rolling out its 5G-Advanced network, alternatively called 5.5G.

Notably, the 5.5G network is an advanced version of 5G and has been developed under the 3GPP (protocol developer 3rd Generation Partnership Project) Release 18 standard. The new connectivity standard builds on previous iterations and offers higher data rates, broader coverage and improved uplink connectivity. 

The latest offering from Reliance Jio’s stable comes at a time when the parent conglomerate Reliance Industries has aggressively shored up its digital play in the past year. Last year, the oil-to-telecom major launched a clutch of new offerings, including quick commerce and AI cloud services. 

On the telecom front, Reliance Jio acquired additional spectrum worth INR 973 Cr and hiked its tariffs to increase its average revenue per user (ARPU) and improve customer mix. As a result, Jio Platforms, which houses the telecom operator, saw its ARPU jump 7.4% year-on-year (YoY) to INR 195.1 per month in the quarter ended September 2024. 

Meanwhile, Jio Platforms’ consolidated net profit rose 23.4% YoY to INR 6,539 Cr in the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25). Operating revenue also saw a healthy 18% YoY jump to INR 31,709 Cr in the quarter under review.