Mumbai, April 5:
5G has largely disappointed users in India over the past year. What began as a promising technology has not delivered the expected results. Currently, only two major players dominate the market—Jio and Airtel. Although Vodafone Idea has entered the competition, it remains significantly behind. Even with Jio’s 700 MHz band aimed at improving indoor coverage, the 5G experience indoors is subpar. As a Jio user, I often find myself switching back to 4G, which offers a more stable and satisfying experience, even outdoors. While there are areas with decent 5G coverage, I rarely find myself in those locations. Consequently, paying for 5G feels less worthwhile after such a long wait.
My friends using Airtel have also expressed frustration with their 5G experience. It’s evident that much more coverage and optimization are needed. While 5G serves as an effective marketing tool, particularly for those opting for fixed-wireless access (FWA), it fails to meet consumer expectations.
Currently, 5G is only available to consumers who subscribe to 2GB of daily data plans with Airtel and Jio. Vodafone Idea is expected to follow suit as it expands its 5G services. However, if users are reverting to 4G for a more reliable experience, the question arises: why pay more for a limited 2GB daily data plan? Telecom companies are focused on increasing average revenue per user (ARPU). Although data prices remain low by global standards, the service quality does not compare favorably with international markets.
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