Jio wired broadband user base up 34.5% in a year, Airtel's 24.2%
5G-based fixed wireless access (FWA) services is pushing wired broadband growth in India, with Reliance Jio outpacing its closest rival Bharti Airtel.
Between May 2023 and May 2024, Jio's wired broadband user base jumped 34.5% versus Bharti Airtel's 24.2%, latest telco subscriber data collated by the regulator showed. As of end of May, Jio's wired broadband user base stood at 12 million compared to Airtel's 8 million.
Analysts say 5G-based FWA services may be seeing traction, which could break the monetisation logjam and open new revenue streams for India's telcos. A key reason for this is monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) from the 5G-based FWA business is seen to be at least three-times higher (at ₹600) than 5G mobile ARPUs.
In the near-term, India's telcos may be staring at a potential target audience of around 100 million homes as the fixed broadband market remains grossly underpenetrated, analysts said.
India's wired broadband user base is a modest 41.3 million as of May end, as per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India data. «FWA is likely driving higher wired broadband user net adds for Jio,» ICICI Securities said, analysing the data.
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