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iPhone users will have to wait for 5G in India even if it is available today

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iPhone users will have to wait for 5G in India even if it is available today

Airtel told a publication that Apple is currently testing 5G in India. 5G needs to be unlocked on iPhones via an OTA update, the company added.

Story highlights
  • Airtel announced it would start rolling out 5G services in 8 Indian cities.
  • Some Android users are already seeing the 5G option.
  • Jio will launch its 5G services near Diwali.

iPhone users in India may have to wait a little longer to enjoy 5G connectivity. While some Android smartphones are already getting an Airtel 5G option in select circles like Delhi, iPhones are yet to offer this connectivity option. That is mainly because Apple is yet to unlock this capability, as suggested by Airtel. This could change very soon, once 5G is widely available in India via different telcos.

At the India Mobile Congress 2022 in New Delhi, Airtel announced it would start rolling out 5G services in eight Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, and others) from October 1. There are still some lingering doubts over availability and 5G plans, but at least some Android users (including me) are already seeing the option on their premium smartphones.

Airtel Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Randeep Sekhon has told The Indian Express that Apple is currently testing 5G in India. On the sidelines of IMC 2022, the senior executive told the publication, "We have set up special networks for them to test... You can buy an iPhone 14 today, but 5G will not work until Apple opens it".

Sekhon also clarified that Airtel would not be pushing an OTA (Over-the-air) update to make 5G work on iPhones. On the other hand, smartphone OEMs need to roll out the software update to enable 5G services on compatible devices. India Today Tech was able to spot the 5G network option on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 via a server-side update,though it is not working yet. In Apple's case, the company will also need to push an update to bring the fast-internet connectivity option on its iPhones. The senior Airtel executive reiterated that Airtel 5G works on old SIM cards, and customers will not purchase a new SIM card.

Since Airtel 5G needs to be unlocked on iPhones via an Apple-side update, we can expect the same for Reliance Jio and Vi (formerly Vodafone Idea). India Today Tech has reached out to Jio, Vi, and Apple for more details. We'll update this section with the official reply.

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