MUMBAI, India (CU)_ According to the latest report released by Ericsson, over 100 million customers with 5G-capable smartphones in India intend to upgrade to a 5G plan by 2023, and over half of them are willing to change to a higher data tier plan within a period of one year. Urban smartphone users in India are eagerly expecting the launch of 5G next month, and the desire to upgrade to 5G in urban India is twice as high as that of 5G-capable countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
The survey, conducted in the second quarter of this year, reveals the opinions of 300 million regular urban smartphone users. The studies revealed that customers are even ready to pay a 45 percent premium for a plan that includes unique experiences, which might be a boon for the internet service providers who are prepared for 5G. Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications leader, recently announced the launch of ultra-lightweight Massive “MIMO 32T32R” radios, AIR 3219 and AIR 3268 (Antenna Integrated Radio) as the optimal solutions for India’s requirements.
According to the firm, these 5G radios, which will be manufactured in India, are energy-efficient and have coverage-boosting capabilities such as Uplink Booster, making them ideal for highly populated countries. Nitin Bansal, Head of Ericsson India and Head of Network Solutions for South-east Asia, Oceania and India at Ericsson, said: “Our new generation 5G and multi-band radios that will be deployed across networks will allow for the best user experience while the improved energy efficiency will reduce the cost of operations and impact on the environment, thereby ensuring sustainable and responsible 5G rollout.”
5G will increase India’s network satisfaction, particularly for gaming. According to the report, seven out of ten existing smartphone users anticipate improved video streaming quality once 5G is implemented. Jasmeet Sethi, Head of Ericsson ConsumerLab, said: “The transition to 5G provides an opportunity for service providers in India to strengthen their position in the consumer market, with a focus on 5G quality and availability.”
