Jio outpaced Airtel in revenue and ARPU during the June quarter of FY26. New data from analysts shows Reliance Jio posted faster revenue growth and ARPU improvement than Bharti Airtel. This shift shows how India’s top two telecom giants are evolving in a highly competitive market.
📊 How Jio Outpaced Airtel in Revenue and ARPU
In the June quarter (Q1 FY26):
- Reliance Jio achieved revenue growth of about 2.7% quarter-on-quarter to nearly ₹31,200–31,300 crore.
- Bharti Airtel’s wireless revenue grew about 2.6% QoQ to around ₹27,300 crore.
- Jio’s ARPU rose to around ₹210 with a 1.8% QoQ growth.
- Airtel maintained a higher ARPU of ₹249, but its growth was slower at 1.6% QoQ.
These numbers highlight how Jio outpaced Airtel in revenue and ARPU growth, even if Airtel’s ARPU remains higher.
🏠 The FWA Boost: A Game Changer for Jio
One big reason why Jio outpaced Airtel in revenue and ARPU was its aggressive push into fixed wireless access (FWA):
- Jio added nearly 2 million FWA broadband users in the quarter.
- These new subscribers helped increase data consumption and average revenue.
By focusing on home internet services, Jio found a new way to grow, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where fiber rollout is slow.
📈 Impact of Tariff Hikes and Market Strategy
Another factor that helped Jio outpaced Airtel in revenue and ARPU:
- Residual benefits from the July 2024 tariff hike.
- Targeted upgrades from low-value to mid-value plans.
- Attractive bundled offers, including OTT subscriptions and unlimited voice.
These strategies made it easier for Jio to increase ARPU faster than Airtel, even though Airtel’s premium customer base keeps its ARPU at a higher level.
📱 Subscriber Growth Stories
Both companies added new users:
- Airtel added around 5.5 million mobile broadband subscribers.
- Jio’s focus was more on broadband (FWA) and steady mobile growth.
While Airtel’s higher ARPU shows it retains premium customers, Jio’s aggressive growth helped it expand faster in terms of total revenue.
🏢 Quick Background: Who Are Jio and Airtel?
- Reliance Jio: Part of Reliance Industries, launched in 2016. Known for disrupting the Indian telecom sector with free voice calls and cheap data.
- Bharti Airtel: Founded in 1995. India’s second-largest telecom operator by subscribers, famous for strong urban network quality and higher-paying customers.
Over the past few years, Jio has narrowed the ARPU gap and often outpaced Airtel in quarterly revenue growth.
🔮 What’s Next? Future Outlook
Analysts believe:
- ARPU could rise even further if operators announce fresh tariff hikes later this year.
- Broadband expansion, especially FWA, will remain a big growth driver.
- Airtel’s premium strategy may keep its ARPU at the top, but Jio could continue growing faster overall.
