What to Expect From 5G in India: Cities, Speeds & Plans Compared
There’s a moment when your phone suddenly loads a video faster than you can blink, and you just know, you’ve hit a 5G spot. But then, just a few blocks away, things crawl again. That’s the reality of 5G in India right now. Half thrilling, half confusing. And if you’re wondering where 5G is actually working, how fast it really is, and which plans are worth your money, you’re not alone.
Let’s make sense of it all.
First things first: What’s the real deal with 5G?
You’ve probably heard all the hype, ultra-fast speeds, lag-free gaming, smoother video calls, even smart cities. It all sounds exciting, but here’s the thing: 5G won’t flip your life overnight. What it will do, slowly but surely, is change how we experience the internet, especially on our phones.
Instead of buffering wheels and laggy Zoom calls, 5G promises more fluid connections. Think movie downloads in seconds instead of minutes. Think of your Instagram live going glitch-free, even at a packed stadium. It’s that kind of future.
But it’s also a layered rollout. India’s massive, urban pockets are getting it first. Rural and smaller towns will take a little longer. The good news? We’re no longer just testing waters. Real change is happening.
Where is 5G working right now in India?
Let’s get to the map.
Reliance Jio and Airtel are leading the charge. Vi (Vodafone Idea) is still catching up.
Here’s how things stand:
Jio’s 5G Coverage
Jio has taken the “go big or go home” route. It’s using a 700 MHz band which helps it reach farther, even through walls. As of now, Jio’s True 5G is available in over 7,000 cities and towns, from metros like Mumbai and Delhi to smaller places like Bhopal, Surat, and even some rural belts in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The company is aiming to cover entire India by the end of 2025. Ambitious? Yes. Possible? Given Jio’s track record with 4G, maybe.
Airtel’s 5G Rollout
Airtel is going slightly slower, but it’s playing smart. It’s focusing on high-traffic zones, think airports, major business districts, colleges, and tech hubs. If you’re in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, or parts of Delhi NCR, chances are you’ve already been on Airtel 5G without even realizing it.
By mid-2025, Airtel plans to cover all urban and semi-urban areas. Rural zones will follow.
What About Vi?
Vi is still in the testing phase in most places. A few test rollouts have happened in Pune and Delhi, but there’s no real nationwide plan in motion yet. If you’re a Vi user, 5G might take a while.
How fast is fast? (Speeds that actually matter)
Alright, let’s talk numbers, but the kind you can feel, not just read.
Jio’s Speeds
In cities like Mumbai and Kolkata, Jio users have reported download speeds of 500 Mbps to 800 Mbps. That’s fast enough to download an HD movie in under 10 seconds. In mid-sized towns, the average is closer to 300–500 Mbps, still fast, just not eye-popping.
Upload speeds are usually 50–100 Mbps, which is great for uploading reels, cloud backups, or live streaming.
Airtel’s Speeds
Airtel’s speeds are more consistent, though slightly lower. Major cities see 200–400 Mbps downloads and 40–70 Mbps uploads. The difference? Airtel is using a slightly different 5G tech (non-standalone), which still depends on some existing 4G infrastructure.
But in real-world usage, it doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Videos stream smoothly, apps update quickly, and video calls stay clear.
Do you need a new SIM or phone?
Let’s keep this simple.
SIM:
No new SIM needed for Jio or Airtel 5G. Your current 4G SIM will work just fine, as long as your phone supports 5G.
Phone:
That’s where things matter. If you’re using a budget phone from two years ago, chances are it doesn’t support 5G bands. Check your phone settings or the manufacturer’s site. Look for support for n78 and n28 bands, these are commonly used in India.
Mid-range phones from brands like OnePlus, Samsung, iQOO, Xiaomi, and Realme have solid support for 5G. Apple has also rolled out software updates enabling 5G for iPhones in India.
What about the cost? Are 5G plans expensive?
Surprisingly, no. At least, not yet.
Jio Plans
Right now, Jio is offering 5G at no extra cost if you’re on a plan of ₹239 or above. It’s part of their Welcome Offer. You don’t even have to opt in, it activates automatically on eligible phones.
That’s a sweet deal, but it might change once their full rollout is done. Expect new plan tiers or data caps in 2025.
Airtel Plans
Same story here. No extra charges, and it works with existing 4G plans. Users on ₹239 or higher plans are auto-upgraded.
Both Jio and Airtel are using this as a hook to keep users loyal and to shift them off Vi.
Vi Plans
There’s no 5G plan yet. Vi is still pushing heavy data packs for 4G users and hasn’t stepped into the 5G pricing game.
Will 5G burn your battery?
Here’s the truth: Yes, 5G uses more power, especially in the beginning when your phone keeps switching between 4G and 5G.
Phones from 2023 and newer manage this better. They’re built with smarter chips that balance power and performance. But if you’re seeing your battery drop faster than usual, switching back to 4G (for now) can help.
What does 5G actually change for you?
Let’s get real. Speed sounds great, but what does that mean for day-to-day life?
Here’s how it shows up:
- Video calls: No freezing or delays, even in crowded areas.
- Gaming: Lower ping. Less lag. Games like PUBG or Call of Duty feel snappier.
- Streaming: 4K videos without buffering. No loading bar on YouTube or Netflix.
- Work: Cloud-based apps like Google Drive or Zoom run smoother. Uploads happen quicker.
- Downloads: Huge files download in seconds. No more “Waiting for Wi-Fi.”
And soon, as apps catch up to this speed, we’ll see real-time AR, smarter navigation, faster language translation, and much more.
The not-so-glamorous part: 5G is still a work in progress
Even with all the excitement, coverage still feels patchy. One minute you’re flying through websites, next minute, stuck waiting. That’s because full 5G networks need thousands of small towers or “cells” spread across every area, and that takes time.
So don’t expect perfect coverage everywhere just yet. Think of 2025 as the year when it starts to feel truly reliable in most cities.
Should you upgrade to a 5G phone now?
If your current phone works well and your area doesn’t have stable 5G yet, you’re fine waiting.
But if you’re buying a new phone, definitely get one with 5G. It’s the standard now, and you’ll be future-ready. Most decent phones under ₹20,000 support it already, so you don’t have to spend a fortune.
So, what’s the takeaway?
5G in India is real, it’s growing fast, and it’s already starting to make things better, especially in big cities. But it’s not magic. It won’t fix network issues overnight, and it won’t suddenly turn your phone into a superhero.
What it does offer is smoother, faster, more reliable connectivity that’ll slowly become part of daily life. Jio and Airtel are already giving you a taste of it without charging more. If your phone’s ready, you’re probably already using it.
And as more cities come online and speeds get even faster, the way we use the internet, on our phones, laptops, smart TVs, even watches, is going to shift.
So if you’ve been wondering what the fuss is about, now you know. It’s not about flashy promises. It’s about what’s quietly changing behind the scenes, and why your next scroll, call, or download might just feel a little smoother than before.
