Following complaints from the latter that phone manufacturers have not released their updated software patches, over the air, that allow users of 5G-enabled phones to access the recently launched service, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) summoned mobile device makers and telecom companies on Wednesday.
Although 5G is accessible in a few locations, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Varanasi, telecom firms claim that clients with 5G phones are not receiving the service on their devices.
Conversely, smartphone manufacturers have retaliated against telecoms, claiming that despite their announcement of the launch of 5G during the week of Dusshera, there are only a small number of 5G towers. Device manufacturers claim that telcos are unfairly holding them responsible for the issue; one telco in Delhi, they claim, has only a small number of 5G towers with highly spotty coverage.
All major manufacturers of mobile devices, including Samsung, Apple, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Karbonn, Lava, HMD Global, Micromax, Motorola, and OnePlus, will be represented at the high-level meeting, which the DoT has called. The meeting will be presided over by the telecom secretary and the secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The three private telecoms representatives — Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea as well as Qualcomm — have also been contacted by the DoT to resolve this matter.
The meeting’s agenda includes the following three important items: First, allow existing devices to use 5G services that have been released on cellular networks (both standalone, which is with Reliance Jio, and non-standalone networks).
Talk about the efforts made by telecom service providers and handset makers to get all 5G phones to receive FOTA (firmware over-the-air) updates. 3. Give software upgrades top priority for India’s early 5G adoption.
Mobile carriers have aggressive roll-out plans and have rapidly launched their 5G services. By the end of next year, according to Reliance Jio, which recently conducted a “beta launch,” all talukas, towns, and districts will have access to 5G services. Airtel has pledged to cover all of India by March 2024.