Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently launched MySpeed app to measure and upload internet speeds. It also launched Analytics Portal to show users in detail about network coverage, data speed in their area and Quality of Service (QoS) of their telecom operators. The data on the portal shows that Reliance Jio’s 4G data speed is the slowest among top operators in the country.
According to speed test data on the site from 1552857 speed tests, average download speed for Jio is 6.2Mbps, which is less compared to Airtel, Reliance, Idea and Vodafone.
Jio is on the fourth spot when it comes to average upload speeds, which is 2.4Mbps, slightly better than Reliance. TRAI says that the results represent the average of the data speed samples collected from various consumers of the TSPs on a crowd sourcing basis during speed test initiated by them.
Jio defends this saying that the tests are performed after a user hits FUP limit, which is 4GB per day, after which speeds are reduced to 256kbps.
In a statement, Reliance Jio, said:
Under the Jio Welcome Offer, there is a daily fair usage policy (FUP) limit of 4GB data consumption per user. This limit has been setup with the express intention of preventing heavy data users from degrading the experience of other users.
Before this FUP limit is reached, Jio customers enjoy unmatched 4G LTE speeds on the Jio network. However, after the FUP usage limit is reached, speeds are reduced to 256kbps. Full 4G LTE speeds are once again restored once the next 24-hour period begins.
Historically, we have observed that a disproportionate number of speed tests are performed once the FUP comes into effect. This is so since most users don’t consider performing the test until they observe a deterioration of speed. Such users also tend to perform multiple tests until full speeds are restored.
Given that data usage under Jio Welcome Offer is completely free, a higher proportion of Jio users run up against the FUP limit. In comparison, not all non-Jio users have FUP based plans (rather their usage is completely stopped, and they are entirely prevented from performing the speed test), and even those who have FUP based plans face this situation only once a month. Further, such customers tend to recharge quickly and restore full speeds.
Reliance Jio also said that it continuously measures the speeds experienced by Jio customers – adjusting for factors such as FUP, and is proactively working to improve service levels for all its customers.