Voda-Idea Outperforms Jio and Airtel in 5G Experience for the First Time

For the first time, Vodafone-Idea (Vi) has surpassed Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in key 5G experience metrics, according to data from network analytics firm Opensignal. The report highlights Vi’s performance in 5G video streaming, 5G gaming, and 5G voice apps, although Jio and Airtel continue to lead in speed and coverage.

5G Experience Scores
On a 100-point scale, Vi scored 73.9 in 5G video experience, ahead of Airtel (73.2) and Jio (71.8). In 5G gaming, Vi earned 81.8 points, compared to Jio (80.2) and Airtel (77.4). For 5G voice app experience, Vi scored 83, slightly higher than Jio (82.8) and Airtel (81.9).

Vi Wins 3 Awards
The Opensignal data, collected from October 1 to December 31, 2025, confirms that Vi has won three awards for 5G experience, marking its first major recognition in this segment. Mohammad Abbas, Principal Analyst at Opensignal, noted that Vi had never won any such awards previously.

Speed and Coverage Still Jio-Airtel’s Strength
Despite this achievement, Jio and Airtel remain dominant in 5G speed and network coverage. In download speeds, Jio leads with 198.9 Mbps, followed by Airtel (185.9 Mbps) and Vi (134.8 Mbps). In upload speeds, Airtel tops the chart with 19.3 Mbps, Vi comes second (17 Mbps), and Jio third (13 Mbps).

Where Vi Lags
Vi’s main challenge remains network coverage. While Jio and Airtel have been expanding their 5G networks for several years, Vi launched its 5G services only last year. However, the report emphasizes that wherever Vi’s 5G network is available, it competes strongly with the other two operators.

This marks a significant milestone for Vi, demonstrating that it can deliver a premium 5G experience even while building its network footprint.