Reliance Jio, the only Indian telecom operator to have deployed a 5G Standalone (SA) network, has recorded the highest median download speeds globally among countries with 5G SA, according to Ookla’s latest Q4 2024 report. The report highlights India’s leadership in 5G SA download speeds, clocking in at 260.71 Mbps—surpassing China’s 224.82 Mbps, Japan’s 254.18 Mbps, and Europe’s 221.17 Mbps. However, India’s 5G SA median latency stood at 52.24 ms, while the upload speed was recorded at 15.69 Mbps, making it less competitive in these aspects.
Ookla also noted that globally, 5G SA networks are delivering significantly better performance than 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) networks. In India, the median download speed on 5G SA was 31% higher than on 5G NSA. Additionally, latency was 20% lower in China and Europe on 5G SA compared to 5G NSA and over 25% lower in the U.S. and Japan.
Currently, only Reliance Jio provides 5G SA for mobile customers in India. While Bharti Airtel has also been deploying 5G SA, it is primarily targeting Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) customers. Airtel plans to transition its mobile network to 5G SA only when capacity constraints arise on its existing 5G NSA infrastructure. Meanwhile, as more affordable 5G smartphones enter the market, Indian consumers are gradually upgrading their devices.
Despite the advancements in 5G technology, monetizing 5G remains a challenge for telecom operators. Airtel, unlike Jio, has chosen a more cautious investment approach, holding off on full-scale 5G SA deployment until necessary.
