The issue gained prominence after Airtel launched ‘Priority Postpaid’ plans on May 19, becoming the first Indian telecom operator to commercially introduce a consumer-facing 5G slicing service
India’s top telecom operators are sharply divided over the future of 5G monetisation, with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio backing premium priority services for high-paying subscribers, while Vodafone Idea (Vi) has opposed the move, warning against the creation of a two-tier Internet ecosystem.The emerging battle lines are unusual for the sector because Vi has traditionally aligned with Airtel on regulatory matters, especially against Jio on issues ranging from spectrum pricing to floor tariffs. But this time, Airtel and Jio find themselves on the same side as Parliament examines whether 5G network slicing-based offerings violate net neutrality principles.According to a person aware of the matter, Jio has submitted a detailed response on 5G slicing and net neutrality to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, supporting the use of the technology within the existing regulatory framework. “Network slicing-based service deployments are a legitimate exercise of 5G network capabilities, subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of the Unified Licence and TRAI regulations,” said Jio in its May 25 submission, reviewed by businessline.The Mukesh Ambani-led telecom operator further argued that different network slices for different customer categories or enterprise verticals are permissible under net neutrality norms, provided traffic management remains “transparent, application-agnostic” and technically justified.The issue gained prominence after Airtel launched ‘Priority Postpaid’ plans on May 19, becoming the first Indian telecom operator to commercially introduce a consumer-facing 5G slicing service. The offering promises faster and more consistent speeds in congested locations for premium subscribers. One of 5G’s defining capabilities, network slicing allows telecom operators to create virtual partitions within the same physical network infrastructure. In effect, operators can dedicate specific portions of network capacity to selected users or applications without building separate physical networks.More efficiencyAirtel, defending the service before a telecom policy panel this week, argued that slicing improves overall network efficiency and does not degrade services for prepaid users. The company said its 5G network currently operates at only 38 per cent capacity, leaving enough headroom for all users.Vi, however, has mounted a public campaign centred on “equal network for all”, arguing that preferential treatment based on ability to pay raises concerns around digital equity. “Every customer deserves a fair and consistent network experience,” said Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer at Vi.Mahesh Uppal, Director at telecom consultancy ComFirst India, said the concern is not theoretical. “Spectrum availability in India is significantly lower than in mature markets. If premium slices are prioritised, lower-paying users could face deterioration in service quality,” he saidPublished on May 28, 2026
