Whalesbook
Jio has solidified its position as the frontrunner in India's 5G race, boasting superior speed, signal availability, and user utilization compared to its main competitors, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. This finding comes from a comprehensive report by broadband network research firm Open Signal, which analyzed data collected between September 1 and November 30, 2025.
The report highlights the substantial leap users experience when moving from 4G to 5G. During the study period, Jio's 5G network delivered average download speeds of 199.7 megabits per second (mbps). This represents an impressive eleven-fold increase compared to its 4G network speeds. Bharti Airtel followed, achieving 187.2 mbps, which was seven times faster than its 4G service. Vodafone Idea's 5G network recorded speeds of 138.1 mbps, six times its 4G performance.
Open Signal's research goes beyond peak speeds, focusing on how often users can access and benefit from 5G. The firm measures "Availability," defined as the proportion of time users with 5G devices and subscriptions are actively connected to a 5G network bearer. This metric has been renamed "Time on 5G" to better reflect real-world utilization.
Jio demonstrated exceptional performance, with its 5G signal available 68.1 per cent of the time. Crucially, its subscribers could utilize this connection for 67.3 per cent of their active data sessions. This near one-to-one conversion of availability into actual usage is attributed to Jio's Standalone (SA) 5G architecture and its use of 700 MHz spectrum, which facilitates deep indoor penetration and maintains connections throughout data sessions.
In contrast, Bharti Airtel, utilizing a Non-Standalone (NSA) architecture that relies on 4G for control signaling, reported 66.6 per cent 5G availability. However, users spent only 28 per cent of their time on the 5G network. Vodafone Idea's network, still in its earlier deployment phases, showed 32.5 per cent availability and users spent just 9.7 per cent of their time on 5G.
As the adoption of 5G smartphones, particularly models priced under ₹10,000, continues to accelerate, network demands are expected to rise significantly. The report suggests that the operators best positioned for future success will be those capable of balancing network scale with consistent performance, ensuring a reliable "good enough" 5G experience for everyday use.
This news has a significant impact on the Indian telecom market. Jio's strong performance could attract more subscribers and increase revenue, potentially pressuring competitors Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to accelerate their network upgrades and improve their user experience. Investors in these companies will closely monitor subscriber growth, network investment, and market share shifts. The overall digital transformation in India is also bolstered by leading 5G infrastructure. Impact rating: 8/10.
Difficult Terms Explained:
Open Signal: A firm that provides analytics and insights into mobile network performance based on real-world user data.
Megabits per second (mbps): A unit measuring data transfer speed; higher numbers mean faster downloads and uploads.
Standalone (SA) architecture: A 5G network architecture that operates independently using 5G core network and radio access, offering the full benefits of 5G.
Spectrum: Radio frequencies allocated by governments for wireless communication, essential for mobile networks.
Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment: An initial 5G network strategy that uses existing 4G infrastructure for control functions while adding 5G radio access, providing faster speeds but not the full 5G capabilities.
Control signalling: Communication between the network and the device that manages the connection, like setting up calls or data sessions.
Bearer: A dedicated connection or path within the network designed to carry specific types of traffic, like data or voice.