Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio has secured the third position globally in delivering the best download speeds among telecom operators serving large geographic areas, according to Opensignal’s latest report. The ranking is based on data collected over a 180-day period between July 2 and December 27, 2024. Jio achieved an average download speed of 97Mbps, placing just behind T-Mobile USA, which topped the list with 152.5Mbps, and Telenor Norway, which came in second with 127Mbps. Notably, Jio is the only Indian operator to feature in the top global rankings.
Free 5G Access Powers Jio’s Speed Lead; Airtel Earns Global Recognition for Growth
A major factor contributing to Jio’s impressive performance has been its strategy of offering 5G services at no additional cost. The company provides 5G bundled with plans that include 2GB of daily data, allowing millions of users across India to access high-speed connectivity without paying a premium. This widespread availability and affordability of 5G has significantly boosted the telco’s average download speeds nationwide.
Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel, another leading Indian telecom provider, was named a “Global Rising Star” by Opensignal for its remarkable year-over-year improvement in download speeds. Airtel recorded a 68.4% increase in speed performance. However, despite this growth, Airtel did not make it to the list of top operators in terms of global download speed rankings.
Airtel’s Capped 5G Strategy Boosts Experience but Limits Nationwide Impact
Airtel is also offering free 5G access under its 2GB daily data plans. Unlike Jio, though, Airtel imposes a 300GB usage cap on 5G data. While this has helped improve user experience, it may have limited the telco’s ability to match Jio’s nationwide performance.
Summary:
Reliance Jio ranked third globally for download speeds, driven by free 5G access with daily data plans. It trailed only T-Mobile and Telenor. Airtel, recognized as a “Global Rising Star” for 68.4% speed growth, also offers free 5G but with a 300GB cap, limiting its broader performance.
