Bharti Airtel generates nearly twice as much revenue per GB of reported data traffic as Reliance Jio, according to an analysis by New Street Research. The findings highlight Airtel’s focus on premium customers, pricing discipline and monetisation, compared with Jio’s emphasis on network scale and higher data consumption.

In its October 26, 2026 report titled Bharti Airtel vs Jio: Performance and Strategy Compared, the research firm estimated Airtel’s revenue per GB at Rs 9.6, compared with Rs 4.9 for Reliance Jio.

However, the comparison uses different operating perimeters. Airtel’s calculation covers mobile services, while Jio’s includes home broadband and fixed wireless access (FWA). Revenue also includes voice and SMS services, so the figures don’t reflect mobile data prices alone.

According to New Street Research, Airtel generates more revenue per GB because of its premium customer positioning, higher average revenue per user (ARPU), and pricing strategy.

The report noted that the difference in monetisation has persisted despite declining data prices over the years.

Airtel has focused on extracting greater value from its existing subscriber base, rather than competing primarily on traffic volumes. This strategy has enabled the operator to maintain a higher revenue yield relative to its reported network traffic.

Airtel moved first during the November 2021 tariff increases, with Jio following within a week. During the July 2024 tariff revisions, Jio announced its increases first, followed by Airtel the next day.

Airtel’s premiumisation strategy is reflected in its customer mix and revenue performance.

According to the report, Airtel had approximately 30 million postpaid subscribers and 302 million smartphone customers as of June 2026, with smartphone users accounting for around 80 percent of its mobile subscriber base.

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