Ookla Report: India 5G Speed Ranks 14th Globally

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

Image taken from Ookla website

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.

Image taken from Ookla website

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. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Reliance Jio IPO to be Launched in 2025
Telecom Industry

Reliance Jio IPO to be Launched in 2025

Reliance has set plans to launch the Reliance Jio IPO in 2025, targeting a listing on the Mumbai stock exchange, though bankers have yet to be appointed. In July, Jefferies estimated the IPO valuation at around Rs 9.3 lakh crore ($112 billion). Jio Platforms, which encompasses Reliance’s telecom and digital businesses, has 33% ownership by […]

Read More
Airtel is All Set to Break Internet Speed in India
Broadband Telecom Industry

Airtel is All Set to Break Internet Speed in India

In a renewed race between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal’s Airtel, both telecom giants are setting their sights on satellite networks to lead the broadband market in India. In response, Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal emphasized the transformative potential of satellite internet, calling it a “magic bullet” that could bring connectivity to underserved and […]

Read More
Iraq in Talks with Foreign Companies for 5G Network Launch, One Year Post-Approval
5G/6G

Iraq in Talks with Foreign Companies for 5G Network Launch, One Year Post-Approval

The Iraqi government is reportedly in discussions with foreign companies to operate the country’s forthcoming 5G network, a year after the Iraqi Ministry of Communications approved the 5G plan.  According to a report by Iraqi News, Communications Minister Hiyam Al-Yasiri stated that talks are progressing following the cabinet’s approval of a task force, chaired by […]

Read More