Reliance Jio AirFiber targets cable users with 1 Gbps wireless bundles

Jio AirFiber represents a strategic shift toward fixed-wireless as the primary engine for broadband scaling in infrastructure-constrained markets. By bundling live TV and OTT under one bill, Jio is directly attacking the churn-heavy cable television sector to lock households into its digital ecosystem. This move likely forces competitors to accelerate their own FWA rollouts to protect their subscriber bases. For the broader industry, it demonstrates how 5G mid-band spectrum can be monetized as a viable alternative to wired fiber in high-density multi-dwelling units. Investors should track whether this converged offering successfully lifts broadband ARPU beyond mobile-only levels.

According to the June 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report, India is projected to become the world's largest 5G FWA market by 2027, potentially surpassing the United States with over 30 million subscribers. Data from the same report confirms that as of Q1 2026, the combined FWA user base of Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel reached nearly 17 million connections, highlighting a rapid adoption curve for fixed-wireless technology over traditional wired alternatives. Jio alone accounted for approximately 13 million of these subscribers by March 2026, per company filings cited by FintechBizNews, positioning it as a global leader in the FWA segment.

Recent Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data from early 2026 indicates that Jio has captured nearly 80% of the FWA market share over recent reporting periods, adding subscribers at roughly twice the rate of its nearest rival, Bharti Airtel. While Airtel remains a strong competitor with its Xstream AirFiber service, Jio’s aggressive deployment of its 5G standalone (SA) network has provided a capacity advantage for high-bandwidth home applications. Per Hindustan Times, December 2025 reporting showed Jio's total home broadband base (FTTH and FWA) surged to 23.6 million, significantly outpacing Airtel's 12.4 million in the same period.

The competitive landscape is further complicated by the imminent entry of satellite broadband players. As of June 2026, Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and the Jio-SES joint venture all hold Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licenses in India, according to Communications Today. While these satellite services target remote areas where terrestrial 5G remains unfeasible, the overlap in the high-end consumer segment may eventually pressure the pricing of premium FWA tiers like Jio AirFiber Max.