The end of 2G internet subscription in India

The number of 2G internet subscribers in India has been declining so rapidly due to the plummeting price of mobile data rates in India and it is estimated that by the end of 2019, 2G internet subscriptions will be discontinued and be replaced by offers with 4G cellular capabilities.

The decline rate of narrowband internet has quadrupled since Reliance Jio’s entry into the Indian wireless market in 2016 and has brought about the rising availability of low-cost 4G entry-level bundles. Reliance Jio’s partnerships with a variety of low-cost smartphone vendors have also led to competing mobile network operators in India, like Airtel and Vodafone, to launch new-and-improved offers with 4G mobile phones.

What does this mean for the spread of wireless broadband in India?

“The declining prices per GB of 4G data and penetration of services in tier 3 cities and rural geographies of the country is only going to further expedite the process of all subscribers accessing the internet over wireless to be on 4G or broadband,” stated Faisal Kawoosa, Principal Analyst for Telecommunications and ESDM, CMR said in a report.

With the decrease in mobile prices and the widespread penetration of 4G cellular services in rural areas and tier 3 cities in India, facilitated by mobile operators like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone, users currently using 2G internet services throughout India are currently being prompted to switch-over to 4G or wireless broadband throughout India.