Introduction
Going to the hill stations in Kerala and asking yourself what SIM you are using? This field-based guide is a compilation of on-ground traveler reviews and network behavioral characteristics in the highlands to make a comparison between Jio and Airtel in Munnar and Wayanad.
Hills, valleys and forest strips may form signal shadows, and thus performance varies in a few kilometers. It can be used as a realistic expectation-setter and a packing list to ensure a stress-free connection.
Note: Speeds and bars are actually different depending on the weather, crowd load (weekends/holidays), device bands and specific micro-location.
Quick Take: Jio vs Airtel in the Hills
- Jio: Frequently the broader coverage of the rural areas, common 5G in the urban areas, strong 4G fallback in the rural areas.
- Airtel: Extremely stable in towns and along major highways; 5G powerful in market locations and in well-known viewpoints close to towns, though it is occasionally a bit less powerful than Jio deep within estates, but voice quality is always fine.
- Both: 5G in towns and busy roads, 4G in most tourist roads, patchy or no signal in some of the most protected forests and on treks along the ridges.
Coverage and 5G Overview
- Town hubs (Munnar, Kalpetta, Sultan Bathery): Both providers typically provide 5G with high capacity.
- Scenic corridors (Mattupetty, Top Station, Banasura, Lakkidi): Service switches between 5G/4G; peaks, bends and fog may slow down speeds.
- National parks/hikes (Eravikulam, Tholpetty, Chembra): There are weak 4G or no signal areas; no live navigation past trailheads.
- Hotels and homestays: Wi-Fi is available in many of them; in those that have VoWiFi, the call quality is crystal-clear even in areas with a poor cellular signal.
Munnar signal snapshot
| Spot (Munnar) | Jio (coverage/5G) | Airtel (coverage/5G) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar Town & Old Munnar | Strong, 5G common | Strong, 5G common | Good for video calls and hot-spotting |
| Mattupetty Dam / Echo Point road | 3–4 bars, 4G/occasional 5G | 3–4 bars, mostly 4G | Speeds swing with crowd and bends |
| Top Station area | 2–3 bars 4G; 5G patchy | 2–3 bars 4G; 5G rare | Ridges cause dropouts; download maps offline |
| Eravikulam NP (parking/outside) | 3 bars 4G | 3 bars 4G | Inside park/trek zones: very limited to none |
| Marayoor–Chinnar corridor | 2–4 bars 4G | 2–3 bars 4G | Valley sections vary; better near towns |
| Remote tea estates/homestays | 0–2 bars 4G/Edge | 0–2 bars 4G/Edge | Wi‑Fi at stays can be crucial |
Wayanad signal snapshot
| Spot (Wayanad) | Jio (coverage/5G) | Airtel (coverage/5G) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalpetta town | Strong, 5G common | Strong, 5G common | Reliable for work calls |
| Sultan Bathery | Strong, 5G common | Strong, 5G common | Good capacity around markets |
| Lakkidi View Point/Thamarassery Ghat | 2–3 bars 4G; 5G patchy | 2–3 bars 4G; 5G patchy | Fog and bends disrupt; short no‑service pockets |
| Banasura Sagar Dam area | 3–4 bars 4G; 5G partial | 3–4 bars 4G; 5G partial | Better near parking/shops |
| Edakkal Caves (base/parking) | 3–4 bars 4G | 3–4 bars 4G | On the trail: intermittent to none |
| Tholpetty wildlife zone | 1–2 bars near gate | 1–2 bars near gate | Inside safari stretches: usually no signal |
| Chembra Peak (Meppadi base) | 3–4 bars 4G | 3–4 bars 4G | On ascent: patchy; VoWiFi at stays helps |
Call Quality, Speeds and Hotspots
- Voice calls: Both networks are clear in towns. In marginal locations, VoLTE and in particular VoWiFi (assuming your hotel Wi-Fi is reliable) will make a significant difference in the success of calls.
- Data rates: 50-200 Mbps bursts in town-centre 5G, 10-60 Mbps on 4G in most populated routes, and single-digit on ridges and forest roads.
- Hotspotting of laptops: It works well in towns. When the connection is patchy, hold the phone close to a window or a balcony, switch to 4G when 5G is available, and avoid live uploads and use downloads instead.
Practical Tips to Stay Connected
- Bring two SIMs (Jio + Airtel): Overlapping of the dual-SIM coverage minimizes dead zones during road trips.
- Toggle 5G/4G prudently: In case 5G is not stable, turn to 4G/LTE only to have more stable data and fewer call drops.
- Enable VoWiFi: Settings > Mobile Network > Wi-Fi Calling. Excellent in homestays with poor cellular.
- Save offline maps: Google Maps areas can be saved to use in Munnar/Wayanad before you drive into the estates or parks.
- Power and weather: Battery can be depleted faster during cold and misty weather. Keep a 10,000-20,000 mAh power bank.
- Store necessities offline: Boarding passes, hotel vouchers, and copies of IDs in local storage in case of no signal.
- Navigation safety: Pull up at viewpoints or lay-bys to check maps–do not use phones on hairpin bends.
- SIM buy: Indian ID (Aadhaar) or passport as a visitor; it can take a few hours to be activated. Think about using eSIM in case your gadget has it.
What About BSNL and Vi?
- BSNL: Getting better as 4G coverage expands, but remains unreliable in hill coverage areas; satisfactory as a backup voice connection in certain areas.
- Vi (Vodafone Idea): Operates in large towns; rural coverage may be less than Jio/Airtel. A Jio-Airtel combo is the surest bet currently, especially to visitors who are concerned with reliability.
Conclusion
Both Jio and Airtel can get you online in the highlands of Kerala, but not everywhere, and not all the time. On both networks, fast 5G/4G is typically provided in towns and popular tourist areas; dead zones are anticipated in forests, valleys and ridge-line hikes. Carry two SIMs where possible, turn on VoWiFi when staying and save maps to have the most relaxed hill holiday. You will have the photos, the reels, the ride-hailing–all when you really need them–with a little prep.
