Mumbai: Reliance Jio will face stiff challenges as it enters the 5G club and offers its product to operators globally, with rivals Huawei, Nokia and Ericsson ahead in developing the technology and in filing patents, experts said.

“Jio is the latest entrant in 5G technology and its competitors like Huawei, Ericsson and Qualcomm have had a head start. It will take Jio some time to catch up with its rivals,” said Nirupam Lodha, a partner at L&L Partners who specialises in patent laws.

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said in mid-July that unit Jio had developed its own 5G technology, which supports faster mobile connectivity.

“This made-in-India 5G solution will be ready for trials as soon as 5G spectrum is available and can be ready for field deployment next year,” Ambani said. “Once Jio’s 5G solution is proven at India-scale, Jio Platforms would be well positioned to be an exporter of 5G solutions to other telecom operators globally, as a complete managed service.”

Jio, which started operations in 2016, has filed for 134 patents of which 29 have been granted. In its latest annual report, the Mukesh Ambani-led telco said Jio had filed for 31 patents in FY20 alone and was granted 10. Experts said competitors have the first-mover advantage.

“Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung would already have acquired patents with regard to components underlying the 5G technology. With already existing patents, it would be formidable for Jio to pace up,” said Advait M Sethna, a specialist in IP telecom and constitutional law.

The effort is time-consuming as components related to 5G and many processes would already have been patented. “Even if Jio enters into assignment and licence agreements with the existing companies for using their patented technology, these companies would have an upper edge. This is the challenge Jio is likely to face until it carves a niche in the 5G space in the Indian market,” Sethna said. Jio didn’t respond to ET’s emailed queries.

Huawei said in an email to ET that it was the “top patent-holder for 5G technology worldwide. We held 20% of all 5G patents till June 2020.”

Huawei faces huge challenges in deploying its 5G technology in some markets amid charges of cyber snooping due to its alleged links with the Chinese state and army, accusations that the company has denied.

It has been barred in the US, and in the UK from 2021, while its participation in 5G deployment in India is under a cloud. This may prove advantageous to Ericsson and Nokia and open a window of opportunity for Jio.

Finland’s Nokia said it holds more than 3,000 patents that are essential for 5G. Sweden’s Ericsson said it spends 17% of its sales on R&D every year and has an India focus as well.