Top 4G Mobile SIM Providers and 4G LTE Circles in India

The Indian telecom giants are gearing up for 4G battle to claim their superiority in coming years. Almost all major telecom companies have come up with 4G services in the country. The small ones are being acquired and the big are ready to show off their potentials

The important thing to remember here is apart from 4G availability in your state you should also have a 4G compatible smartphone with band support. Let us understand it in detail with an example below:

Suppose if you have a device X with 4G support and have a SIM card also with 4G services in your circle.  Here if the mobile operator supports a particular band in your circle say Band 3 but your device doesn’t support that LTE band then you cannot access 4G services. So, important here is you should have a phone with 4G Band support in your circle for a particular mobile network to avail LTE services.

Indian telecom operators have received spectrum license to operate LTE networks over BAND 5 LTE FDD (850 Mhz), BAND 3 LTE FDD (1800 Mhz), BAND 40 LTE TDD (2300 Mhz) and BAND 41 LTE TDD (2500 Mhz).

Map of 4G LTE Circles in India Source

Source: DataReign

1. Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio, the teleservice branch of Reliance Industries holds the pan-India 4G LTE license which brought a revolution in telecom sector of this country. It’s free voice calls over LTE is bringing Boner to its peers. Reliance Jio started its 4G with promotional offers which are quite sweet and inexpensive like free services for preview users, free night usage etc. Jio also launched bundle of apps which offer free music, television, movies and other services to its users. Jio offers 4G in almost all major cities and towns in the country.

Reliance 4G bands and Circles

Band: 40: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh (west), Bihar.

Band 3 and 40: Delhi, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal.

Band 5 and 40: J&k,.

Band 3, 5 and 40: Mumbai, Assam, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (east), West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, North East India and Orrisa

2. Airtel

Airtel 4G

Aitel was the first to launch 4G services in the country. It offers its services in almost entire country and with its solid nationwide coverage, Airtel should be the first choice for anyone.

Aitel 4G Bands and circles

Band 3: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), West Bengal, Bihar.

Band 40: Maharashtra

Band 3 and 40: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Karnataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, HP, J&K, Orissa, North east India.

Missing Circles: Assam

3. Vodafone

Vodafone started providing 4G service in 2016 under the name of Vodafone supernet. It has acquired rights for band 40 and band 3 only.

Vodafone 4G Bands are circles

Band 3: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Kerala, MP, Punjab.

Band 40: Rajastan, UP (west), HP.

Band 3 and 40: UP (east) and Gujarat.

Missing Circles: AP, TN, WB, Assam, Bihar, J&K, North East India, Orissa.

4. Idea Cellular

Idea 4G LTE

Idea also started 4G services in Mid of 2016 and it acquires only band 3.

Idea 4G Bands and Circles

Band 3: It is available in the entire country expect for circles: Delhi, Rajasthan and Bihar.

5. BSNL

State-owned telecom company has not yet started 4G but has rights for Band 41 and hopes to launch 4G services in 6 major cities across the country.

BSNL 4G Circles and Bands

BSNL (Band 41) doesn’t have 4G licence for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, AP, Gujarat, TN, Karnataka, Maharashtra.

6. Aircel

This dominant player of south India has rights over band 40. Aircel is loved by people because of its offers and services. It is even ranked as best telecom network in India by Mint.

4G circles and Bands

Band 40 is available in AP, Kolkata, TN, Kerala, UP (west), RJ, Assam, Bihar, J&K, North east, Kerala, Karnataka.

Conclusion: We recommend you to buy a smartphone which has Band 40 and/or band 3 support as majority of telecos are operating under this BAND.