Odisha adds 7,800 new 5G home broadband users in Sept: Trai

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has added over 7,000 new 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) or home broadband users in Sept, taking the total number of subscribers to 4.63 lakh, up from 4.55 lakh in Aug, according to a report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recently.The report, ‘Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data’ at the end of Sept 2026 indicated that the state has registered an additional 7,871 users during the month. Reliance Jio continued to dominate the segment with 3.66 lakh subscribers, accounting for nearly 80% of the market, while Bharti Airtel had over 96,000 users.The report also revealed that the number of mobile users who sought to switch telecom operators through mobile number portability (MNP) in the month remained high. The data showed that 2.93 lakh mobile subscribers in Odisha submitted requests to port their numbers during Sept.Telecom analyst Prasanta Sahu said the growth in fixed wireless broadband highlights increasing demand for high-speed internet beyond conventional fibre networks. "5G FWA is emerging as a practical alternative in locations where fibre connectivity is either unavailable or expensive to deploy," he said.Users, meanwhile, cited convenience and quick installation as key reasons for opting for the service. “I shifted to 5G broadband after facing delays in getting a fibre connection. The installation was completed within a day, and the speed has been satisfactory for work and streaming," said Swaroop Das, an IT professional in Bhubaneswar.Another user, Priyanka Mohanty, a postgraduate student, said that wireless broadband has improved connectivity in her locality. “Earlier, we had limited broadband choices. The new service offers stable internet without the hassle of cable-related disruptions," she said.Industry expert Subhransu Pattnaik said that operators are aggressively expanding FWA services in Tier-II cities and peripheral urban areas. “The technology is helping companies tap broadband demand faster without the delays associated with laying underground fibre. There is strong adoption in cities like Sambalpur and Berhampur,” he said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bhubaneswar | Silver Rate in Bhubaneswar | Bank Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Public Holidays in Bhubaneswar | Petrol Price in Bhubaneswar | Diesel Price in Bhubaneswar | CNG Price in Bhubaneswar | LPG Price in BhubaneswarStay updated with the latest Bhubaneswar news. Download the TOI App.