Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Jio is collaborating again with South Korean company Samsung Networks to set up a nationwide Internet of Things (IoT) through phone network by Diwali. Samsung Networks is also contributing in setting up Jio’s LTE network to cover almost every Indian individual.
Reliance Jio and Samsung networks however didn’t disclose the value of the new contract.
Samsung Networks bagged another huge deal in 4G LTE expansion from its sole customer in India. The deal aims at increasing Jio’s 4G network penetration to 99% of the population while the network only covers 75% of the population currently.
Youngky Kim, Samsung Electronics President and Head of Networks Business said, “We are delighted to contribute to Jio’s success story and rapid growth. We have been striving to offer the best experience possible to all users at Jio. Jio’s LTE network will unlock the potential of IoT and promise a much more convenient and safe environment for user.”
Jyotindra Thacker, President of Reliance Jio, stated that Samsung is helping Jio deploy around 10,000 sites monthly. This will make Jio reach 99% LTE penetration when Diwali arrives. “We keep adding sites and location wherever possible while it’s small cell or the macro site for 99% coverage and capacity,” he said.
Additionally, the South Korean giant looks set to provide new network technologies such as massive multiple-input, multiple-output (massive MIMO), and network virtualization to help the 4G network sustain fast network speeds to the several customers.
Under this coalition, Samsung looks set to provide Jio with the necessary equipment to improve LTE network coverage and capacity. They are also aspiring to introduce a next-generation cellular IoT network.
The nationwide cellular IoT network will aim to support a wider amount of customers and enterprises. Features such as vehicle tracking, security, surveillance, smart appliances, smart metering and more will be added and improved. Both Reliance Jio and Samsung Networks see this investment as a step ahead in paving the way for a fully functioning Digital India where the Internet of Things will reach every town and villages.
This service is already available in Mumbai but Samsung did inform that the NB-IoT network will soon reach the rest of the country.
Samsung executive Sundararajan optimistically believes that that all these improvements will only mean a smoother transition to 5G later. He points out that the massive MIMO is already set up commercially in certain spots of the country but not in mass numbers.
Sundararajan believes the network expansion will make Jio the first and only operator in India to enable LTE services across the whole nation, including the most remote places. “This will also surpass the 2G coverage when we finish this expansion. Along with this coverage, Samsung is also providing tools like automated antenna tilt optimization under the expansion, which enables significantly better user experience as well user satisfaction,” he said.