Jio GigaFiber has been under test for a while in Bangalore and came to our locality on Sarjapur Road Bangalore around January February 2019. Note that it is not yet launched commercially happened with Jio GigaFiber so far.
I got my connection installed and activated last week of February and now have been using it for around 3 months under Preview offer for the Jio GigaFiber.
Jio GigaFiber is available in only certain areas of Bangalore and other cities but I see that network cables and infrastructure is expanding fast for a full commercial launch.
In this post I will answer frequently asked questions and let you know my experience so far.
Triple Play - Voice line and TV service is not yet active. Smart home features also are not yet provided or activated. At this time at (approaching end May 2019) only Internet connection is active.
Jio GigaFiber Subscriber End Equipment
Equipment is a white box with Fiber Input and dual band WiFi router is built into the same box. It provides a phone line RJ11 port and also 3 wired Ethernet ports and 2 USB ports.
What I have got is made by Fuhong Precision, Vietnam.
Various Interfaces and connections on rear of the Subscriber box.
Fiber through internal wiring duct comes to wall. This is followed by connection with a patch cable to the subscriber unit. Fiber patch cord is SC Type.
In case you need longer patch cord or similar fiber cables, these are available on Amazon India on this link
Optical Fiber Patch Cords SC Type on Amazon India
In case you need longer patch cord or similar fiber cables, these are available on Amazon India on this link
Optical Fiber Patch Cords SC Type on Amazon India
Outside fiber drop -
1:8 or 1:16 splitter is usually installed for giving fiber connection to multiple houses from a fiber drop. Boxes look like this which are typically installed in basements or common utility areas of apartments.
Fiber that is routed to the house. Good experience overall, the way installation was handled. Jio installation team was well trained for fiber installation, wiring including internal wiring through wall ducts.
Kits used by installation team
More views of the installation
Connection takes around a minute to establish. Front light starts with red, then becomes blinking green and then solid green.Solid green LED on Jio GigaFiber Box indicates an established connection .
What I have paid - Rs 4500 security deposit. The service is free till commercial launch.
Commercial launch date is not announced yet (as of 21 May 2019). There are rumours on various plans and services which will be available. Prices may start from as low as Rs 600 per month. There is no official word but base price is expected to offer 100 GB high-speed data, unlimited voice calling, Jio Home TV subscription and access to other Jio apps. As per rumours similar to many of the Jio Mobile prepaid plans, the package would come with 28-day validity. Jio’s Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service is known as Jio Home TV. A landline connection (for unlimited voice calling) may be provided through the phone port on the subscriber box. Users may have to get landline phones or may be offered as a bundle.
Speed Test
I was using Airtel DSL line with 40Mbps speed before this Jio connection and the new connection gives me 100Mbps during this trial. I am getting between 90 to 100Mbps speed through cable or 5G WiFi line of sight connection. For 2.4G WiFi speeds are lower are mostly we can only get 35 to 50Mbps.
Speed measured on Mobile phone when connected through 5G WiFi to Reliance Jio GigaFiber Box.
Speed measured on Mobile phone when connected through 2.4G WiFi to Reliance Jio GigaFiber Box.
The subscriber box is well made. With both WiFi bands active and with 4 to 6 devices connected, I have not seen face problem in 3 months of operation. Based on the load and activity, the unit gets warm but not too hot. It has ventilation holes all around on the botton side. It is advisable to keep it on a flat surface so that it does not overheat. It is all convection cooling through air and there are no fans.
-----Other Jio Products----------
Jio Hotspot or JioFi 4G Hotspot M2S 150 Mbps Jio 4G is another Portable Wi-Fi Data Device from Jio. You can get the same on Amazon India.
Update 10 August 2019.
Jio landline service is now active through Jio Fiber. Today when I opened the MyJio app and switched to the Fiber connection account I got a pop up that JioFixedVoice is now available for activation.
Activated it through the app and an OTP. Landline has started working. Just need to plug in a phone into the RJ11 phone socket on the Jio Fiber box.
Update 12th August 2019
Update 12th August 2019
Jio Fiber or JioGiga Fiber has been in trial mode for around a year. Now after trials runs and testing at 5Lac (500K) houses Jio is ready for commercial launch and date has been announced at Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)’s Annual General Meeting on 12th August 2019.
Commercial launch will happen from 5th September 2019.
Charges will start from Rs 700 and will go upto Rs 10000 per month with speeds between 100Mbps to 1Gbps.
Unlimited voice calling to any phone, any telecom operator will be bundled with Jio GigaFiber.
One of the bundle announced is for cheaper International calling from Jio Landline. One of these is unlimited US/Canada calling plan from Jio Landline for Rs 500 per month.
For some long term yearly plans Jio is also proposing to bundle a 4K set top box and a 4K TV. Stay tuned.
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Update 4 Sep 2019.
Jio Fiber commercial launch has happened and rates have been finally announced.
Jio Fiber Plans on Jio Website
Key highlights -
Monthly plans start from Rs 699 to Rs 8499 (before taxes) for speeds starting from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. High speed data quota range is from 100GB to 5000GB (5TB). As part of initial offer for 6 months bonus additional data is also being offered.
Plans have been names Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum and Titanium.
There are freebies also on offer like in Annual Silver plan you get a decent Bluetooth Speaker free and also additional data. Annual subscribers also get set top box free of cost.
Shop on Amazon USA
Amazon USA
Update 28 Oct 2019
Fiber connection working well without any problems. No information on billing start date yet for the trial customers. We are able to add data as needed and phone and internet working well. The local contact of Jio have informed that we have to wait for some more time before we get to select the plan and start paying and availability of set top box for TV and other services..
Update June 2020.
Connection working fine without any issues. New apps are being regularly added to Jio Settop box.
For some long term yearly plans Jio is also proposing to bundle a 4K set top box and a 4K TV. Stay tuned.
--
Update 4 Sep 2019.
Jio Fiber commercial launch has happened and rates have been finally announced.
Jio Fiber Plans on Jio Website
Key highlights -
Monthly plans start from Rs 699 to Rs 8499 (before taxes) for speeds starting from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. High speed data quota range is from 100GB to 5000GB (5TB). As part of initial offer for 6 months bonus additional data is also being offered.
Plans have been names Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum and Titanium.
There are freebies also on offer like in Annual Silver plan you get a decent Bluetooth Speaker free and also additional data. Annual subscribers also get set top box free of cost.
Shop on Amazon USA
Amazon USA
Update 28 Oct 2019
Fiber connection working well without any problems. No information on billing start date yet for the trial customers. We are able to add data as needed and phone and internet working well. The local contact of Jio have informed that we have to wait for some more time before we get to select the plan and start paying and availability of set top box for TV and other services..
Update June 2020.
Connection working fine without any issues. New apps are being regularly added to Jio Settop box.
Using connection along with
Update October 2020
For existing customers like me who had paid based on 999 per month plan for 100Mbps connection, Jio has updated speed to 150Mbps and monthly quota is also gone and now it is Unlimited. Connection is far better and reliable and rarely have faced outages. Overall a good experience so far. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are also now part of the apps offered on the Jio Settop box.
