India has emerged as one of the top 15 markets globally in terms of reported 5G media download speeds, fueled by extensive deployments of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks by major telecom operators such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, as per findings from network testing and analytics firm Ookla. Analyzing data from Q4 2023, Ookla reported that India ranked 14th globally in 5G median download speeds, averaging 301.86Mbps, with median upload speeds of 18.93Mbps.
Affandy Johan, an Industry Analyst at Ookla, highlighted the pivotal role of Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in driving the 5G rollout across India, noting their significant efforts in swiftly deploying 5G coverage nationwide. By the end of December 2023, India witnessed the deployment of over four hundred thousand 5G base stations (BTSS) nationwide, marking a 7.7-fold increase from January 2023 and positioning India as one of the fastest countries globally in terms of 5G rollout.
Johan underscored that India’s aggressive deployment of the 5G network has resulted in tangible benefits, elevating the country’s position in the global rankings for fastest 5G median download speeds. Despite fierce competition globally, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar led the fastest 5G markets worldwide during the period, followed by South Korea. In India, the 5G median download speed of 301.86Mbps in Q4 2023 significantly outpaced the 4G median download speed of 16.05Mbps, showcasing the substantial leap in performance.
The surge in 5G availability can be attributed partly to the remarkable growth in 5G-capable smartphones in India. Counterpoint Research reported that the share of 5G smartphone shipments crossed 52% in 2023, marking a 66% year-on-year growth. The introduction of more affordable 5G-capable devices has further fueled adoption, with significant growth observed in the $100 to $199 segment during Q4 2023.
Reliance Jio demonstrated the highest 5G availability among the two major operators, with a reported availability of 68.8% during the period, surpassing Airtel’s 5G availability of 30.3%. Leveraging a combination of low-band (700 MHz) and mid-band (3.5 GHz) spectrum, along with its extensive fiber network, Reliance Jio has managed to strike a balance between coverage and performance for its subscribers. However, Vodafone Idea, the third-largest telecom operator in India, is yet to launch its commercial 5G services, indicating ongoing developments in the Indian telecom landscape.
