Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro and 6a Finally Get 5G Support in India With March Pixel Feature Drop

Google began testing support for 5G networks in Pixel phones in India from this January, with the release of Android QPR Beta 2 update. Looks like the test run was successful, as the company is now rolling out the March Pixel Feature Drop which brings official support for Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio 5G for Pixel phones in India.

Google is clearly the last brand to roll out support for Airtel's non-standalone 5G Plus and Reliance Jio's standalone True 5G network, after promising the government it will roll out support by December.

The March Pixel Feature Drop enables the Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, along with the Pixel 6a to connect to Reliance Jio and Airtel's 5G networks. Once the update is installed, 5G capability should be enabled automatically, and the 5G network icon will appear in the status bar when the phone connects to a 5G network.

For Airtel 5G, the upgrade is pretty much seamless. The SIM is automatically upgraded to support 5G. For Reliance Jio, however, users will have to wait to be accepted into the Jio True 5G Welcome Offer, after which you get unlimited 5G data for recharge above Rs 239. Airtel too is offering 5G at no additional cost, with the current data limits in place.

Both Airtel and Reliance Jio are expanding their 5G networks at a rapid pace across the country. Reliance Jio now has its True 5G networks available in more than 330 cities in India, while Airtel has expanded to 125 cities so far. Jio has said it will roll out 5G in all parts of the country by December 2023, while Airtel said it will cover the country with 5G by March 2024.

Vodafone Idea, however, has still not announced any plans about its 5G launch. The cash-strapped telecom company is struggling to secure funding, with the government having converted some of the debt Vi owed into equity. The company is also in talks with telecom gear suppliers, indicating that a launch may happen soon, especially considering that the minimum rollout obligation deadline is nearing soon.

The March Feature Drop for Pixel phones also includes new features. For instance, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro now have faster Night Sight. The Health Connect app has also been added for all Pixel phones, while the Pixel Watch has been outfitted with Fall Detection.