Top officials of the department of telecom (DoT) and the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) have called smartphone makers for a meeting on Wednesday in an effort to persuade them to make sure that their devices are 5G compatible.

India formally launched 5G services last week, joining close to 70 other nations that have already done so.

But there has been one sticking point: none of the Apple iPhone models, and close to 18 Samsung devices do not support 5G services as yet. All of them are waiting for software upgrades.

Officials said the meeting would discuss the timeline for these software updates even as Reliance Jio and Airtel prepare to roll out 5G services across the country.

While over 100 million subscribers in India have 5G-ready phones, many devices, including Apple, are not supporting the service.

“We shall be working together to ensure smooth rollout of 5G, including smooth onboarding of consumers,” an official source said.

A joint meeting of smartphone companies and telecom operators will be held on Wednesday at the Department of Telecom (DoT) office. Secretaries of both the DoT and Ministry of Electronics and IT will chair the meeting to discuss teething problems over the 5G rollout.

Bharti Airtel is the only company to have commercially launched 5G services while Jio has started beta trials.

The DoT wants handset manufacturers to roll out updates simultaneously to support both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks.

Around 30 people have been invited for the meeting including representatives from DoT’s Telecom Engineering Centre, MeitY, and the India Cellular and Electronics Association. The smartphone brands including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, HMD Global, Transsion Electronics, as well as Indian manufacturers Lava, Karbonn, Micromax and contract manufacturer UTL Neolync have also been called.

Apple is testing iPhone with Airtel and Jio to work on software updates that will give access to 5G services to consumers.

Sticking point

■ India launched 5G services last week

■ None of the Apple iPhone models, and close to 18 Samsung devices do not support 5G services as yet

■ All are waiting for software upgrades

■ Meeting will discuss the timeline for these updates