Imagine traveling between India and the United States and experiencing seamless 5G connectivity on your mobile device, retaining all the premium features and high speeds you enjoy at home. This could soon become a reality thanks to advancements and potential collaborations between Jio and T-Mobile.
Currently, mobile users traveling between the two countries often face internet slowdowns and the loss of premium features embedded in their data plans. This is because 5G networks are not always created equal. However, the telecom landscape is evolving, and these connectivity frustrations may soon be a thing of the past.
Jio's approach to 5G in India utilizes a 5G Standalone (SA) network. This network runs entirely on 5G technology, promising faster speeds, more reliability, and support for advanced features. This contrasts with some non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks that rely on existing 4G infrastructure. Jio's "True 5G" boasts deep indoor coverage, lightning-fast data speeds, and is a made-in-India technology. Over 200 million users are already experiencing Jio True 5G, with speeds up to 1 Gbps.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is another area where Jio is making waves. FWA uses mobile networks, like 4G or 5G, to deliver broadband to homes and businesses, bypassing the need for traditional fiber or cable. This is especially useful in areas where laying fiber is expensive or challenging. Jio's 5G Fixed Wireless Access service, JioAirFiber, has been deployed across approximately 5,900 towns and cities in India as of mid-2025. By the first quarter of 2026, Jio had acquired 7.4 million AirFiber users, representing 82% of India's FWA customer base. In May 2025, Jio surpassed T-Mobile to become the world’s largest FWA provider.
T-Mobile has also aggressively pushed FWA as a growth engine in the US. While T-Mobile's coverage has been wide, Jio's ability to target both urban and semi-urban areas at scale creates a structural advantage in subscriber growth and capital expenditure. Jio's per-household deployment cost for FWA is also lower than that of operators in the US and Europe due to its pan-India standalone 5G network, indigenous device ecosystem, and controlled fiber backhaul integration.
The potential convergence of these technological approaches could lead to a more unified global 5G experience. Roaming agreements that fully support 5G SA features would allow users to seamlessly access the benefits of their home network while abroad. As Jio continues to innovate and potentially expand its technologies globally, the partnership with companies like Qualcomm to develop affordable 5G solutions is particularly noteworthy. Moreover, Jio is already looking towards the future with its indigenous 6G stack, showcasing advanced technologies like the Jio Gigantic MIMO and AI-driven beamforming at the India Mobile Congress 2025. These innovations promise even higher capacity, throughput, and lower latency for future networks.
Ultimately, the collaboration and competition among telecom giants like Jio and T-Mobile are driving the evolution of 5G technology. This could lead to a future where your 5G experience feels the same, no matter where you are in the world.
