Jio AirFiber announced: Launch date confirmed, price, availability, benefits and everything you need to know

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Reliance Jio is preparing to introduce a new wireless internet service for homes and offices, called Jio AirFiber. During the 2023 AGM held today, Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries announced that that Jio AirFiber would be launched in India on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023, coinciding with the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.

The Jio AirFiber service was initially announced at the company's 45th AGM last year. Talking about the service, Jio emphasised that with AirFiber users will gain access to wireless internet at speeds comparable to fiber-optic connections. This will enable them to use a range of applications with low latency and high bandwidth, such as streaming video, gaming, and video conferencing. The service also includes features such as parental controls, support for Wi-Fi 6, and more.

Jio AirFiber is a new wireless internet service from Jio that uses 5G technology to provide high-speed internet connectivity. According to Jio, The AiFiber will offer speeds comparable to those of traditional fiber-optic connections, and users will also be able to access speeds of up to 1Gbps.

As for the instalment process, the official Jio website reveals that the only steps required to step up Jio AiFiber is just plugging it in and turning it on. "You just have to just plug it in, turn it on, and that's it. You now have a personal Wi-Fi hotspot in your home, connected to ultra-high-speed internet using True 5G. With JioAirFiber, it will be really easy to quickly connect your home or office to Gigabit-speed Internet."

Jio unveiled the device in an advert last year, demonstrating 5G speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps. Jio says that Jio AirFiber uses true 5G to provide fast, reliable, and extensive Wi-Fi coverage. The service can cover up to 1,000 square feet on the same floor of a house or office, thanks to its unique spectrum holding, the company claims.

Along with fast speed internet, the Jio AirFiber will also offer other services for a safe internet experience, including:

Jio AirFiber service is expected to be priced 20 per cent lower than other available devices in the market. A report by ET telecom suggests that the device could cost around Rs 6,000.

Jio AirFiber and Jio Fiber are distinct broadband services from Reliance Jio, differing in technology, speed, coverage, installation, and cost.

For instance, Jio Fiber employs wired fiber optic cables for broader coverage, yet not available across the country. On the other hand, the coming Jio AirFiber will be a wireless broadband network using point-to-point radio links, connecting homes and workplaces to Jio via direct signal. It's not constrained by fiber cables but depends on line-of-sight with Jio towers.

Regarding speed, Jio AirFiber is said to offer up to 1.5 Gbps, exceeding Jio Fiber's 1 Gbps. However, actual Jio AirFiber speed varies with tower proximity. Additionally, Jio AirFiber is plug-and-play, while Jio Fiber demands professional installation. This way Jio AirFiber will be more compatible and user-friendly.

Meanwhile, Jio AirFiber is said to come as a strong competition to competing broadband providers like Airtel, BSNL, and ACT. Jio AirFiber is based on Jio's own 5G technology, which is built on SA (standalone) architecture. This means that it is independent of the existing 4G infrastructure, unlike Bharti Airtel's NSA (non-standalone) approach. Jio claims that this distinction gives it an advantage over its competitors in terms of both speed and reliability.