Airfiber: Jio AirFiber vs Airtel Xstream AirFiber 5G wireless routers: How the two differ on price, plans, speed and more

Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani announced the Jio AirFiber services at the company’s 46th annual general meeting which was held last month. The telecom giant has now launched its Fixed Wireless Access(FWA) solution which is powered by the company’s True 5G service. FWA, is a type of 5G or 4G LTE wireless technology that offers fixed broadband access using radio frequencies instead of cables.FWA can be used to connect homes and businesses to the internet.
The latest Jio service will take on Airtel’s FWA solution Airtel Xstream AirFiber which was launched in August. Just like Airtel’s plug-and-play 5G router, Jio AirFiber will also overcome the challenges of last-mile connectivity and will offer an upgraded experience for TV as well as broadband users. Here’s a comparison between the fixed-wireless services from both Jio and Airtel.
Jio AirFiber vs Airtel Xstream AirFiber: Availability
JioAirFiber will be initially available in eight cities, which include — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Meanwhile, the Xstream AirFiber service is currently available for Airtel 5G users in Delhi and Mumbai. The company plans to launch it in more cities in the coming months.
Jio AirFiber vs Airtel Xstream AirFiber: Plans and speed
Airtel Xstream AirFiber plans start at Rs 799. This plan offers speeds of up to 100Mbps and can be availed for a duration of six months with a one-time refundable security deposit of Rs 2,500. Airtel Xstream AirFiber doesn’t need any external help for installation. Subscribers can install the device and start using it with the Xstream AirFiber app.
On the other hand, Jio AirFiber plans start at Rs 599 which can be availed for six or 12 months. With this plan, the company is offering up to 30 Mbps speeds. To ensure an ultra-fast connection, an outdoor unit will be installed on the user’s terrace/rooftop or outside their home. This installation service is chargeable at Rs. 1,000 but will be waived off in case a subscriber opt for an annual plan. Users can also take the benefit of credit/debit card-based EMI to pay monthly and still get the benefits of an annual plan.

Apart from this, Jio will also offer two other plans for AirFiber which will offer 100 Mbps speeds and are priced at Rs 899 and 1199. All these plans will get 550+ digital channels while both the higher-priced plans will get 14 apps and other subscriptions for Netflix, Amazon Prime and JioCinema Premium.
Jio has also launched plans for AirFiber Max at Rs 1,499, Rs 2,499 and Rs 3,999 that offers 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 1000Mbps speeds, respectively. All these plans will get all the services that will be offered with both Jio AirFiber’s higher-priced tiers.
Jio AirFiber vs Airtel Xstream AirFiber: How to set up and connect
Users can get the Airtel Xstream AirFiber device from any Airtel store in available cities. It is a plug-and-play device that can be self-installed with the help of the Xstream AirFiber app.
To get Jio AirFiber, users have to give Jio a missed call on 60008-60008 to start booking on WhatsApp. Users can also visit www.jio.com or the nearest Jio Store to get the device. Then, customers have to register for Jio AirFiber services and the company will get in touch with them and connect their home as soon as services in their building are ready.