The rollout of 5G is imminent and widely anticipated, there is a lot of speculation regarding what it’ll actually bring. A telecom solution provider Ericsson has conducted an analysis that will reflect the opinions of 300 million mobile users living in cities across India It states that more than 100 million people with 5G-ready smartphones are planning for an upgrade subscription with 5G in 2023 . More than half are willing to upgrade to a higher-speed data plan within the next twelve months. In the last 2 years India saw a triple more the number of smartphone owners who have the 5G phone.
The report of the study, titled “Promise of 5G in India”, conducted through Ericsson ConsumerLab, said the plan to switch the network to 5G within urban India is 2 times greater than that of markets such as the UK and the US in which 5G is already in use.
Video streaming & gaming industry set for better times
The study found that 5G network quality could become an element in determining consumer loyalty and loyalty, with 59% of mobile owners planning upgrading to 5G within the next 12 months. In the group of those planning for a switch to 5G technology, 36% intend to choose the most reliable provider of 5G networks when it becomes accessible. It found that 60% of those who already own a 5G compatible phone are expecting 5G to deliver new and innovative apps, which are considered to be more appealing than coverage that is better. They are also prepared to fork out 45% price premium for plans with a novel experience if that their expectations are met, Ericsson added.
As one would expect gamers and those who stream video are expecting a lot from 5G. This will result in an increase in the consumption of high-resolution, new format streaming video and cloud gaming. “7 percent of all the current smartphone users are eagerly anticipating enhanced video streaming when they upgrade to 5G. 5G-ready customers are already engaged with more digital services as compared to 4G users. 60% of users who are 5G-ready are currently using greater than 3 digital apps.”
The study looked at 27 different 5G-enhanced services with Indian customers to determine the top 10 services Indian customers would like to see in their plans for 5G. They comprise: Health and Fitness, 360-degree live video streaming. Cloud gaming, the 5G Television package virtual meeting space immersive education, the best seat event interaction, interactive calls AR shopping based on location and VR shopping.
Jasmeet Sethi, Director of Ericsson ConsumerLab said: “The shift to 5G is the possibility for service providers from India to improve their standing in the market for consumers and focus on the quality of 5G and its availability. The most innovative experiences should be integrated to satisfy the demands of early adopters in order to effectively make money from 5G.”
Ericsson also announced the release of the ultra-lightweight Massive Multi-MIMO 32T32R radios, which are the ideal suitable for India’s requirements – the AIR 3219 and the AIR 3268 (Antenna Integrated Radio). These 5G radios, to be made in India have a high energy efficiency and have enhancements to coverage, like Uplink Booster. These features are very useful for a large population such as India.
“These radios were specifically designed to support the 5G middle-band Massive MIMO performance to deliver the benefits of a simple deployment and increased energy efficiency. Due to their lighter weight they are Ericsson radios are easy to install on rooftops, towers, walls and poles,” the company said.
