Earlier this year Jio unveiled “JioAirFiber,” a home Internet solution that relies on your carrier’s 5G network instead of running a cable to your home. Now rival Airtel is preparing a competing service called “Airtel Xstream AirFiber 5G”.
This hasn’t been officially announced yet, but due to an error the Android app was released too early on the Play Store which leaked many details about the new service.
Xstream AirFiber 5G will be centered around a Wi-Fi 6 (ax) router. To set it up, you’ll first need to choose a good spot in your home with a strong signal, then insert a SIM card into the bottom of the device and turn it on. It looks like the app will have some AR features to help you choose the best seat.
Instructions for setting up Airtel Xstream AirFiber 5G from the app
The router will also work on 4G networks, of course, but 5G will offer a much better experience with higher bandwidth and lower latency. There are a handful of Ethernet ports on the back of the device if you want to hook up some desktop computers, consoles, smart TVs, etc.
The app also revealed the pricing scheme for the service – a 6-month subscription with 100Mbps speed will cost ₹2,994 (which is equivalent to ₹499 per month). The price of the 5G router itself is expected to be ₹6,000.
Airtel may have various promotions and combined offers in mind, we just have to wait for the official announcement to find out. By the way, the app used to be here but has since been removed.
For comparison, you can get Airtel Xstream Fiber (aka wired) 40Mbps for ₹499 per month, including a free Wi-Fi router. There are also Internet + TV deals, you can check the available plans here. Either way, the AirFiber version will offer faster speeds for the same price and easier setup.
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