Airtel, Jio 5G speeds decline significantly two years post launch: report | Tech Tips

Amid the high demand for 5G for a faster and smoother network, India has one of the highest levels of 5G availability in the region, thanks to Jio and Airtel. However, as per a new report, their average 5G download speeds have dropped significantly in India two years post the network launch due to congestion caused by faster adoption of 5G technology and higher data usage.

5G download speeds of Jio, Airtel drop

• According to a report by analytics company Opensignal, factors such as spectrum management and usage are essential for better 5G experiences.
• However, it mentions that only 16 percent of 5G users use the 700MHz frequency band, which provides wider coverage over larger areas but typically offers slower speeds.
• In contrast, 84 percent of users use the 3.5GHz band, which delivers faster speeds but has a more limited coverage area.
• Therefore, with the rise of data demand, service providers find it challenging to effectively manage their spectrum resources.
• Airtel’s 5G download speed is 6.6 percent faster than Reliance Jio at around 240 Mbps. Airtel also has a higher 5G upload speed award at 23 Mbps, which is 83 percent faster than Jio.

Data of four operators, namely Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and government-run BSNL, was taken over a period of 90 days from June 1st this year to August 29th. Vi and BSNL are yet to launch 5G services commercially, so it’s mainly Airtel and Jio spearheading the rollout in India. 

While Airtel is reallocating its mid-band spectrum to manage increased traffic and plans to introduce 5G Standalone (SA) technology to lessen dependence on 4G, Jio is expanding its SA 5G network while improving spectrum usage.

It is worth mentioning that Airtel has been recognised as the leading provider of 5G services in India, with all five awards for 5G Experience, including categories for video and gaming. Meanwhile, Jio holds the Consistent Quality award, indicating its users experience the highest reliability for demanding applications.

On the other hand, Jio won all three awards, significantly leading in 5G Availability, in the Coverage category. Meanwhile, Airtel achieved the fastest 5G download and upload speeds in India.

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