Net Neutrality Stalls Jio 5G

Jio has built premium 5G on a cutting-edge standalone network, but a policy haze is holding up the launch. The company is ready with “network slicing”—a 5G feature that lets operators offer specialized, high-speed lanes for everything from gaming to enterprise services. Slicing is seen as the best way for telcos to monetize 5G, but India’s telecom regulator hasn’t clarified if it fits within net neutrality rules. With regulatory uncertainty dragging on, Jio’s big 5G rollout is stuck in limbo, even as Airtel quietly pulls ahead in monthly mobile user additions.

But here’s the catch: while mobile growth is hotly contested, Jio is shifting focus to home broadband, fixed wireless, and enterprise deals where it’s gaining fast. The company’s steady push into rural and semi-urban markets is paying off—March numbers show Jio adding tens of thousands of wireline and FWA (fixed wireless access) connections in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. It’s a deliberate play to boost ARPU (average revenue per user) and reduce reliance on fierce mobile competition. Meanwhile, strong Q4 earnings and renewed IPO chatter have Wall Street tuning in, but all eyes are on whether regulatory clarity—and those elusive premium 5G features—arrive before rivals widen the gap.

Featuring insights from Jio’s Anshuman Thakur and reporting from Fortune India and Business Today.

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