Jio fought back vs Airtel in Q4, but subscriber war to intensify

Kolkata: A combination of strong consumer appetite for its recent cheaper JioPhone offers, increased market aggression via higher channel spends to grab Vodafone Idea (Vi) users through the MNP route and the disappearing impact of farmers’ protests have helped Reliance Jio fight back and stall arch rival Bharti Airtel’s recent superior subscriber additions pace, say analysts.

They added that the fight for Vi’s and new data subscribers is set to further intensify as Jio’s strong spectrum footprint, courtesy recent purchases, would help it boost network capacity and experience, and take on Airtel. The Sunil Mittal-led telco has also bolstered its spectrum footprint through its auction buys and expanded its data network through record tower additions in the fourth quarter.