Summary:
India’s private telecom giants, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), are continually refining their 5G offerings, with a combined 4,86,070 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) deployed nationwide as of June 2025. Recent adjustments to entry-level prepaid plans reflect their strategies for attracting and retaining 5G subscribers. While all three now offer “unlimited 5G data,” a key distinction lies in their Fair Usage Policy (FUP): Jio continues to provide truly unlimited 5G data on eligible plans, whereas Airtel and Vi apply an FUP, typically capping high-speed usage at around 300GB per month before throttling speeds.
How India’s leading telcos are shaping the 5G experience through revised plans and data policies:
India’s 5G rollout has been aggressive, with Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) leading the charge. As of the end of June 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reported a robust 4,86,070 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) deployed across the country, signifying widespread availability. In this rapidly evolving market, operators are strategically adjusting their entry-level prepaid plans to include “Unlimited 5G Data,” albeit with subtle but significant differences in their fair usage policies.
Airtel’s Entry-Level Unlimited 5G Data Plan:
Bharti Airtel’s most accessible prepaid plan offering complimentary Unlimited 5G data now begins at ₹349. This plan provides:
- Validity: 28 days
- Voice: Unlimited calling
- SMS: 100 SMS per day
- Data: 2GB per day (totalling approximately 56GB for the validity period). After this daily high-speed quota is consumed, speeds are reduced to 64 Kbps.
- Unlimited 5G Data: Available for eligible users in 5G-enabled areas, subject to a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). This means while the 5G data is “unlimited,” there’s a monthly threshold (reported to be around 300GB) after which speeds may be lowered.
- Additional Rewards: Includes access to the Airtel Xstream app for free content, one free Hellotune per month, VoLTE (HD Voice) for clearer calls, and an AI-powered spam detection feature.
Jio’s Evolving Entry-Level Unlimited 5G Data Plans:
Reliance Jio has recently made a notable shift in its entry-level unlimited 5G data offering.
- New Entry Point: Jio’s most affordable prepaid plan with complimentary Unlimited 5G data now starts at ₹198.
- Validity: 14 days
- Voice: Unlimited calling
- SMS: 100 SMS per day
- Data: 2GB per day (totaling 28GB). Post daily high-speed data usage, unlimited data continues at 64 Kbps.
- Previous Entry Point: Previously, the entry-level plan for unlimited 5G data was ₹349.
- ₹349 Plan Details (Now the next tier): This plan continues to be available, offering:
- Validity: 28 days
- Voice: Unlimited calling
- SMS: 100 SMS per day
- Data: 2GB per day (totalling 56GB). Post daily high-speed data usage, unlimited data continues at 64 Kbps.
- Truly Unlimited 5G Data (No FUP): Crucially, Jio explicitly states that its Unlimited 5G Data is truly unlimited for eligible subscribers, with no restrictions on consumption. This means, unlike its competitors, Jio does not currently impose a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) cap on high-speed 5G data.
- Jio App Benefits: Both the ₹198 and ₹349 plans include access to JioTV and Jio AI Cloud, with the ₹349 plan additionally offering a 90-day JioHotstar Mobile/TV subscription and 50GB JioAICloud storage as part of the Jio Unlimited Offer.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) Entry-Level Unlimited 5G Data Plan:
Vodafone Idea’s complimentary Unlimited 5G data offer is available with prepaid unlimited plans starting from ₹299 and above.
- Entry-Level Plan Details (₹299):
- Validity: 28 days
- Voice: Unlimited calling
- SMS: 100 SMS per day
- Data: 1GB per day (totaling 28GB). Post daily data quota, speeds are reduced to 64 Kbps.
- 5G Rollout: Vi has recently expanded its 5G services, notably launching in Mysuru, Karnataka, following Bengaluru.
- Unlimited 5G Data (Subject to FUP): Similar to Airtel, Vi’s “Unlimited 5G data” is subject to a Fair Usage Policy. This implies that while users can access 5G speeds, there is a monthly commercial usage quota (often around 300GB) after which Browse speeds may be throttled.
Understanding “Unlimited 5G Data” and Fair Usage Policy (FUP):
The term “unlimited 5G data” can be nuanced. While all three private operators now offer this benefit, the critical distinction lies in the application of a Fair Usage Policy (FUP).
- Jio’s True Unlimited: Jio’s approach currently stands out by offering genuinely unlimited 5G data without any stated FUP cap for eligible users. This means subscribers can consume high-speed 5G data without worrying about speed reductions based on monthly usage volume.
- Airtel & Vi’s FUP-Based Unlimited: For Airtel and Vi, “unlimited 5G data” implies that users will get 5G speeds as long as they are within their daily high-speed data quota (e.g., 2GB per day) and stay below a monthly FUP threshold (commonly around 300GB). Once this monthly FUP limit is crossed, high speeds are reduced, although basic internet access typically continues at lower speeds. The FUP is a network management tool designed to ensure equitable access and prevent a few heavy users from degrading network performance for others.
The adjustments in 5G plans reflect the operators’ continuous efforts to optimize their offerings based on network expansion, subscriber adoption, and competitive pressures. With nearly 500,000 5G BTS deployed, the telcos demonstrate significant investment and experience in building next-generation networks. Their transparent communication (or lack thereof, in the case of FUP details) regarding “unlimited” data policies directly impacts consumer trust. Jio’s current “truly unlimited” approach sets it apart, while Airtel and Vi’s FUP-based policies are a standard industry practice for managing network resources efficiently. As 5G adoption grows, these pricing strategies and data policies will continue to be critical differentiators in the highly competitive Indian telecom market.
