Can Jio Beat T-Mobile? Why Reliance’s Fixed Wireless Ambitions Matter for Global and Indian Markets

In a dramatic shift that could redefine global broadband leadership, Reliance Jio is poised to overtake T-Mobile as the world’s largest Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider by subscriber base.

Why FWA is such a big deal:

FWA utilises mobile networks, such as 4G or 5G, to deliver broadband to homes and businesses, thereby bypassing the need for fibre or cable. It is especially valuable in regions where laying fibre is cost-prohibitive or logistically challenging. Globally, FWA is gaining traction as a cost-effective, rapidly deployable alternative to traditional broadband. In the US, T-Mobile and Verizon have aggressively pushed FWA as a growth engine.

Reasons Reliance Jio Can Surpass T-Mobile

Here are some parameters that indicate Reliance Jio can surpass T-Mobile:

• Market Dominance

Reliance Jio’s 5G FWA user base has crossed the 6.88 million mark in May 2025, making it the largest single deployment worldwide. T-Mobile in the United States, the current global benchmark, recently reported around 6.85 million FWA customers in March. Reliance Jio moved nearly one million subscribers using unlicensed band radio (UBR) for FWA into the fibre to the x (FTTx) category. After this reclassification, its active FWA user base reached 5.9 million in May, with 0.74 million fresh additions recorded that month . This milestone is not just a volume figure; it highlights Jio’s ability to execute mass-scale deployments in a complex, high-density market.

• Rapid Deployment

Jio’s 5G Fixed Wireless Access service has been deployed across around 5,900 towns and cities as of mid-2025. This expansion occurred within just 18 months of the initial FWA launch, a feat that reflects remarkable speed given the infrastructure and spectrum constraints in India. T-Mobile’s coverage, while wide in the US, has been more gradual and rural-centric. Jio’s ability to target both urban and semi-urban clusters at this scale creates a structural advantage in subscriber growth and capex amortisation.

• Customers’ Preference

Approximately 80% of new broadband connections added in India in recent months are through Jio’s AirFiber offering. This implies that traditional broadband, including fibre and DSL, is being increasingly leapfrogged by wireless alternatives. The behavioural signal here is important: Jio has not only created a new category but has also become the default choice for first-time internet users. This mirrors mobile trends from 2016 to 2018, where Jio similarly disrupted incumbents.

• Cost-to-Deployment

Jio’s per-household deployment cost for FWA is lower than that of operators in the US and Europe. This is due to three primary reasons: its pan-India standalone 5G network, indigenous device ecosystem, and controlled fibre backhaul integration. Whereas Western peers often rely on external vendors and fragmented 5G rollouts, Jio has vertically integrated the entire supply chain.

• Market Projection

There is a projection that the Indian FWA addressable market could touch 100 million homes by fiscal year 2030 . With only around 41.41 million fixed broadband connections currently active in India, FWA has emerged as the biggest new growth lever. Jio’s early lead, combined with low device costs and existing tower infrastructure, positions it well to tap a significant share of this addressable market.

• Rural Broadband Penetration

Over 2.7 million of Jio’s new AirFiber activations came from rural and semi-urban clusters that previously had minimal or zero wired connectivity. This stands out in a country where the digital divide has long hindered inclusive growth. Jio’s FWA rollout in places like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh suggests that the company is not merely targeting high-ARPU users, but is also actively addressing untapped geographies.

• Unmatched Spectrum Holdings

Reliance Jio possesses a broad and deep spectrum portfolio that gives it a technical edge in deploying fixed wireless access at scale. It spans a spectrum across multiple frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz . This combination of low, mid, and high-band frequencies allows Jio to ensure both wider coverage and high-speed capacity. The low-band spectrum enhances indoor penetration and rural connectivity, while the higher bands facilitate ultrafast internet in densely populated urban areas. T-Mobile relies more on mid-band frequencies for its FWA growth.

• Vertical Integration

Jio does not just operate as a telecom provider. It has built an integrated ecosystem spanning hardware (Jio AirFiber devices), connectivity (mobile and fixed wireless), and content (JioCinema, JioTV). This vertical integration creates an interesting value proposition for households. Customers receive bundled services that include internet, entertainment, and device support from a single provider, reducing churn and increasing customer stickiness. T-Mobile focuses primarily on connectivity and does not operate in the content space on the same scale.

• Aggressive Pricing Approach

Reliance Jio is known for its aggressive pricing approach, which helped it dominate the mobile space in less than a decade. It is applying the same strategy in FWA by offering plans starting from ₹599 with speeds up to 1 Gbps. Such pricing, combined with zero installation charges and free OTT subscriptions, makes the offer very competitive. T-Mobile’s pricing, even with promotional discounts, remains significantly higher due to higher cost structures in developed economies.

Conclusion

Reliance Jio is well on track to surpass T-Mobile as the global leader in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). With rapid deployment, unmatched spectrum holdings, cost-effective strategies, and deep rural reach, Jio is reshaping broadband access in India. Its vertically integrated model and aggressive pricing give it a strong competitive edge. As FWA becomes a key solution for digital inclusion, Jio’s ambitions could influence not just India but the entire global broadband market.

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