Will Reliance Jio Offer 2G and 3G Services?

The question of whether Reliance Jio will offer 2G and 3G services has been a subject of much debate. As of now, it seems highly unlikely that Reliance Jio will provide 2G and 3G services in the immediate future. This is primarily due to the shift towards faster 4G technology and the focus on providing high-speed data services.

The Shift to 4G Technology

Currently, 4G devices are the most popular among users, and the majority of people rely on them solely for their networking needs. Reliance Jio, known for its high-speed services, has positioned itself as a leader in 4G LTE services. Offering 2G and 3G services would be less effective due to the lower speeds, making it difficult for the service to meet the needs of its customers effectively. Therefore, it makes more sense for Reliance Jio to continue offering and improving its 4G services.

Strategic Partnerships

While it might seem logical to tie up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communication for 2G and 3G services, it is important to note that Reliance Jio has already entered into a partnership with Reliance Communication to use their tower infrastructure. This collaboration primarily focuses on offering 4G services. However, having 2G/3G services would be beneficial in the initial phases to ensure broader coverage and connectivity, especially given the sparse availability of 4G networks. 2G/3G services can be used for Circuit Switched Fall Back (CSFB), a technology used for voice calls in LTE environments.

Exclusive 4G Services with Data and Voice on LTE Network

Reliance Jio has been clear about its commitment to 4G services and has launched LTE services solely. In regions where 4G services are not yet available, they have strategically partnered with other service providers to offer 4G services through these ties. Their data and voice services will be offered exclusively on the LTE network. Voice services will be provided via Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology.

ICR Agreement with Reliance Comm

There were previous discussions about Reliance Jio entering into an inter-circle roaming (ICR) agreement with Reliance Communication. Under such an agreement, users with a Reliance Jio SIM would get data services from Jio’s 4G network but would use the 2G/4G network of Reliance Communication for calls. However, as of now, Jio has not entered into any such agreement. Therefore, it is clear that Reliance Jio will not offer standalone 2G or 3G services.

Reliance Jio has allocated 1800 MHz and 900 MHz bands for their services, and as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), any operator can use these bands with the technology of their choice. Additionally, they have made partnerships with Reliance Communication and BSNL to provide 3G and 2G services respectively where their coverage is limited. By focusing on these partnerships and ensuring robust 4G services, Reliance Jio is aiming to provide the best quality of service to its users. The significant investment of around ?70,000 crores in infrastructure without including spectrum charges further emphasizes their commitment to maintaining a high-quality network for their customers. The delay in service launch might be due to a desire to avoid negative impressions resulting from a poorly structured network.