5G in India: Coverage, Speeds & Which Plans Support It
India's 5G rollout, which began in October 2022, has transformed mobile connectivity across the country. By early 2026, Jio and Airtel have deployed 5G in over 700 and 500 cities respectively, making India one of the fastest 5G rollouts in global history. Here is everything you need to know about 5G coverage, speeds, devices, and which plans give you access.
5G Coverage in India: Where Is It Available?
As of March 2026, 5G is available across all major Indian cities and is rapidly expanding to Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.
Jio 5G is available in over 700 cities and towns. Jio's standalone (SA) 5G architecture allows for wider coverage per tower, which is why Jio has been able to cover more cities than Airtel. Major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune have extensive indoor and outdoor 5G coverage.
Airtel 5G is live in over 500 cities. Airtel uses a non-standalone (NSA) architecture that piggybacks on its existing 4G infrastructure. While this means fewer total cities, Airtel's approach delivers faster speeds in areas where it is deployed, particularly in urban centers.
Vi 5G launched later than its competitors and is available in select cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Vi's 5G rollout has been slower due to the company's financial restructuring, but it is expanding steadily through 2026.
BSNL 5G has not yet launched. BSNL is working on deploying its 4G-Satcom and has plans for 5G, but a commercial launch date has not been confirmed for 2026.
5G Speeds: What to Expect
Real-world 5G speeds in India vary significantly based on carrier, location, time of day, and device. Here are typical speed ranges based on independent testing:
- Jio 5G: Download speeds typically range from 100-500 Mbps, with peak speeds up to 1 Gbps in optimal conditions. Upload speeds average 30-80 Mbps. Jio's SA network provides consistently good speeds even at cell edges.
- Airtel 5G: Download speeds typically range from 150-700 Mbps, with peak speeds exceeding 1.5 Gbps near towers. Upload speeds average 40-100 Mbps. Airtel generally delivers faster peak speeds than Jio in areas where both have coverage.
- Vi 5G: Early testing shows download speeds of 100-400 Mbps, competitive with Jio but below Airtel's peak performance.
For context, typical 4G speeds in India range from 20-50 Mbps. So 5G delivers a 5-20x improvement in download speed, making activities like HD video streaming, large file downloads, and cloud gaming significantly smoother.
Which Plans Include 5G?
The great news for Indian consumers is that 5G access is included at no extra cost on almost all prepaid and postpaid plans from Jio and Airtel. There is no separate "5G plan" to purchase.
Jio: All plans Rs 239 and above include 5G access. If you are in a 5G coverage area with a 5G phone, your data automatically connects to 5G. During the initial rollout period, Jio offered truly unlimited 5G data (your daily cap did not apply on 5G), but this has since been phased out in most circles, and 5G now counts against your daily data limit.
Airtel: Similarly, all Airtel prepaid plans Rs 179 and above include 5G access. Airtel's initial unlimited 5G offer has also ended in most areas, and 5G data now counts toward your daily cap.
Vi: 5G is available on plans Rs 299 and above in Vi's 5G coverage areas.
The key takeaway: if you are already on a standard prepaid plan from Jio or Airtel, you already have 5G access. No plan change or upgrade is needed.
5G Compatible Devices
To use 5G, you need a phone with a 5G modem. Here are the most popular 5G phones in India by price segment:
Budget 5G Phones (Under Rs 15,000)
- Realme Narzo series
- Samsung Galaxy M series (M14, M34 5G)
- Poco M6 5G
- Redmi Note 13 5G
Mid-Range 5G Phones (Rs 15,000 - 30,000)
- Samsung Galaxy A54/A55 5G
- OnePlus Nord series
- iQOO Z series
- Motorola Edge series
Flagship 5G Phones (Rs 30,000+)
- iPhone 14/15/16 series (all models support Indian 5G bands)
- Samsung Galaxy S24/S25 series
- OnePlus 12/13 series
- Google Pixel 8/9 series
To check if your phone supports 5G on Indian networks, verify that it supports Band n77 (3500 MHz) and Band n258 (mmWave) for Airtel, or Band n78 (3300-3670 MHz) for Jio.
How to Enable 5G on Your Phone
If you have a 5G phone and are in a 5G coverage area, enabling 5G is straightforward:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data > select "5G On" or "5G Auto." The "5G Auto" setting intelligently switches between 5G and 4G to optimize battery life.
- Samsung: Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network mode > select "5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)."
- OnePlus/Realme/Xiaomi: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi & network > SIM & network > Preferred network type > select "5G/4G/3G/2G."
If you do not see a 5G option in your network settings, check that your phone's software is up to date. Some manufacturers enable 5G support through software updates after the phone's initial release.
Does 5G Use More Battery?
Yes, 5G connections consume more battery than 4G, typically 10-20% more during active use. This is because the 5G modem requires more power to communicate with 5G towers. If battery life is a concern, use the "5G Auto" or "Prefer 4G" setting, which will only connect to 5G when the speed benefit is significant (like downloading large files or streaming video).
The Future of 5G in India
India's 5G story is still unfolding. Here is what to expect in the coming months:
- Wider rural coverage: Jio aims to cover every district headquarters by the end of 2026. Airtel is focusing on highway corridors and industrial zones.
- 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Both Jio and Airtel are rolling out 5G-based home broadband as an alternative to fiber in areas where laying cables is impractical.
- BSNL 5G: BSNL's 5G launch, expected in late 2026 or 2027, will bring 5G to areas not served by private carriers.
- 5G for enterprise: Private 5G networks for factories, hospitals, and campuses are being deployed, enabling Industry 4.0 applications.
Explore all 5G plans on our 5G plans page or use the main comparison tool with the 5G filter enabled.