Reliance Jio pushes for 2G and 3G network shutdown in India for this reason

Reliance Jio, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has called upon the government to shut down 2G and 3G networks across the nation. This appeal from the telecom giant aims to minimize unnecessary costs and facilitate the seamless migration of all users to more advanced 4G and 5G networks. The request was articulated in response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's consultation paper titled 'Digital Transformation through 5G Ecosystem.'

Jio emphasized the importance of formulating a clear policy and pathway for the complete closure of 2G and 3G networks. The company asserted that such a move would not only prevent unnecessary expenditure but also stimulate the development of a robust ecosystem for 5G use cases.

"The Government should come out with a policy and glidepath for closing down the 2G and 3G networks completely so that unnecessary network costs should be avoided, and all customers can be migrated to 4G and 5G services. This will also give great impetus to developing an ecosystem for 5G use cases," stated Jio.

Highlighting the transformative potential of 5G, Jio outlined its role in driving digital evolution across various industries. The company emphasized that 5G's faster data speeds, increased bandwidth, and lower latency would empower businesses and innovators, fostering the realization of their aspirations.

Vodafone Idea also weighed in on the matter in its response to TRAI, underscoring the challenge of 5G penetration in low-income groups due to the prevalence of 2G/3G-enabled smartphones and the high costs associated with 5G devices. To address this issue, Jio proposed that the government introduce subsidies to incentivize users to transition from feature phones to 5G-enabled smartphones, thereby bridging the digital divide and ensuring broader access to advanced digital services.