India stands among the nations with the most rapid 5G network expansion. With the increasing demand for fast internet and improved connectivity, the spread of 5G in India is largely credited to providers like Jio and Airtel. Yet, a groundbreaking report has unveiled critical insights.
5G networks debuted in India two years ago, but the average speed has notably dropped. According to Opensignal's latest report, aspects such as spectrum management and strategic usage are crucial for an optimal 5G experience.
Interestingly, only 16% of 5G users utilize the 700MHz frequency band, known for broader coverage but slower speeds, while a significant 84% prefer the 3.5GHz band, delivering higher speeds yet limited coverage.
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The escalating data demand poses spectrum resource management challenges for service providers. Airtel delivers a 6.6% faster download speed than Jio, with users enjoying speeds around 240Mbps on 5G, compared to Jio's average downloading speed of 224.8Mbps.
Source: aajtak
Airtel also provides superior 5G upload speeds. Opensignal’s report encapsulated 90 days of data from Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, spanning June 1 to August 29, 2024. Notably, Vi and BSNL's 5G services remain unavailable, hence only Jio and Airtel are studied.
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Airtel is reallocating its mid-band spectrum to better manage increased traffic and is considering employing 5G standalone technology to reduce its 4G reliance. Similarly, Jio is enhancing its SA 5G network reach.
Note that Jio, Airtel, and Vi increased their plan prices this July. Further, Jio users report call drop issues alongside the 5G rollout, facing connectivity challenges post-upgrade.
