US carrier T-Mobile and Indian mobile operator Reliance Jio have paired to achieve a 5G Standalone (5G SA) roaming connection.

In doing so, T-Mobile and Jio have claimed the connection to be a world first, achieved through interoperability with US communications tech company Syniverse.

This means that T-Mobile will be able to provide a 5G SA connection beyond the US for international roaming.

A 5G SA network enables faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections, providing a basis for applications in IoT, real-time communications, and immersive technologies.

T-Mobile was the first carrier to launch 5G SA, doing so back in 2020, at a time when initial 5G networks were based off of a 4G LTE Core, or otherwise known as 5G Non Standalone (5G NSA).

In that same year, Jio also started 5G SA trials, before launching its 5G network two years later.

The roaming connection was enabled by Syniverse's connectivity platform, which "ensures secure, seamless interconnection between networks and helps accelerate global adoption of next-generation roaming."

"This is a monumental step for global wireless, and T-Mobile is proud to lead it," said Ankur Kapoor, chief network officer, T-Mobile.

"We started this journey back in 2020, laying the groundwork for a 5G Standalone future - and today, we're continuing that leadership with Jio India as a partner on a global stage. Leave one country, land in another, and your 5G experience is just as seamless - whether you're streaming, sharing travel reels, or running business apps. That's the breakthrough power of this technology."

Mark Yarkosky, head international network, partnership and services, Jio, said: "T-Mobile and Jio are laying the foundation for a new generation of cross-network capabilities and services, from differentiated consumer and enterprise experiences to AI-enabled services, leveraging the unique capabilities of 5G Standalone. This is the future of 5G SA: seamless, interoperable, and built to unlock new value."