Jio Leads in Real 5G Experience, Airtel Plays Catch-Up

Reliance Jio has successfully converted its wide 5G coverage into higher real-world usage compared to Bharti Airtel, largely due to its standalone (SA) 5G architecture, while Airtel’s non-standalone (NSA) setup still routes much traffic through 4G.

The finding is grounded in Opensignal's independent measurement of usage patterns and subscriber adoption data from FY25, showing Jio's SA rollout translates coverage into real-world usage more effectively than Airtel's NSA approach

Why Jio is Ahead in 5G Usage

• Architecture Difference
  • Reliance Jio: Uses standalone (SA) 5G, with a dedicated 5G core. This allows devices to fully utilize 5G speeds and latency improvements.
  • Bharti Airtel: Relies on non-standalone (NSA) 5G, which piggybacks on its 4G core. Devices may show a 5G signal, but much of the traffic still flows through 4G.
• Subscriber Numbers: As of Q4 FY25, Jio had ~191 million 5G subscribers, compared to Airtel’s ~135 million. That’s a 56 million user lead.
• Coverage vs. Experience
  • Jio dominates in coverage and availability, ensuring more users can access 5G consistently.
  • Airtel, however, often leads in download speeds and network experience, especially for video and gaming.

Comparison Table: Jio vs Airtel (5G Performance)

Metric	Reliance Jio	Bharti Airtel
5G Architecture	Standalone (SA)	Non-Standalone (NSA)
Subscribers (Q4 FY25)	~191 million	~135 million
Coverage	Wider PAN-India	Strong but less extensive
Conversion to Usage	Higher (direct 5G core)	Lower (traffic routed via 4G)
Download Speeds	Strong, >100 Mbps	Often faster than Jio
Video/Gaming Experience	Good, improving	Superior responsiveness
Network Reliability	Strong nationwide	Strong in urban clusters

Key Trade-offs & Risks

• For Jio Users: Broader coverage and more consistent 5G usage. But speeds may lag Airtel in certain regions, especially for high-performance tasks like gaming.
• For Airtel Users: Better peak speeds and experience in select areas. However, NSA architecture limits full 5G benefits, meaning users may not feel a dramatic difference from 4G.
• Market Implication: Jio’s aggressive SA rollout positions it as the mass-market leader in 5G adoption. Airtel’s strategy may appeal to premium users who prioritize speed and experience over sheer availability.