Quick Answer: Excitel vs Jio
Excitel is a low-cost fibre-only provider with roughly one million subscribers across Indian cities. Founded in 2015, it sells 100 Mbps for Rs 399 per month with no data cap on any plan, which makes it one of the cheapest fibre options in the country. Coverage stays within select metros and tier-2 cities. Its routers authenticate by IPoE, so there are no broadband credentials to type.
Jio is India’s largest telecom with 467 million subscribers. JioFiber starts at Rs 399 per month for 30 Mbps with 3.3 TB of monthly data, and it bundles mobile 4G/5G and OTT streaming with fibre across 150-plus cities. Jio routers sit on the non-standard 192.168.29.1 gateway rather than the usual 192.168.1.1.
Pick Excitel for raw speed-per-rupee where it reaches your address. Pick Jio if you want one provider for mobile, broadband, and entertainment, or if Excitel does not serve your city.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Both are FTTH fibre services, but Excitel buys you more speed per rupee at the entry and mid tiers, while JioFiber wraps in mobile, OTT, and wider reach.
| Feature | Excitel | JioFiber |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | ~1M | 467M (total Jio) |
| Technology | FTTH fibre | FTTH fibre |
| 100 Mbps Plan | Rs 399/month | Rs 599/month |
| 200 Mbps Plan | Rs 499/month | Rs 799/month |
| 300 Mbps Plan | Rs 599/month | Rs 999/month |
| Max Speed | 400 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| Data Cap | Unlimited (no cap) | 3.3 TB/month |
| Mobile Service | No | Yes (4G/5G) |
| OTT Bundles | Basic | Disney+, Netflix (higher tiers) |
| Connection Type | IPoE (no PPPoE login) | DHCP behind gateway |
| Default Gateway | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.29.1 |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
The gateway and credential differences get a dedicated section below, since router setup is where these two providers part ways.
Price and Speed Comparison
Both run FTTH fibre, so the line quality is comparable. The gap is what each tier costs.
| Speed Tier | Excitel Price | JioFiber Price | Excitel Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Mbps | Not offered | Rs 399/month | - |
| 100 Mbps | Rs 399/month | Rs 599/month | Rs 200/month |
| 200 Mbps | Rs 499/month | Rs 799/month | Rs 300/month |
| 300 Mbps | Rs 599/month | Rs 999/month | Rs 400/month |
Excitel’s headline is that Rs 399 buys 100 Mbps, whereas the same Rs 399 on JioFiber gets you 30 Mbps. That is roughly three times the speed at the entry price, and it is the single reason most cost-conscious households shortlist Excitel.
Data caps split the two further. Excitel runs every plan uncapped. JioFiber allows 3.3 TB a month, about 110 GB a day, which covers ordinary use but can run short under steady 4K streaming or large downloads across several people. On latency the two are even, with typical fibre ping in the 5-15 ms range on both networks.
Coverage Comparison
Excitel reaches about 60 Indian cities. JioFiber reaches 150-plus.
| City | Excitel | JioFiber |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | Available | Available |
| Mumbai | Available | Available |
| Bengaluru | Available | Available |
| Hyderabad | Available | Available |
| Lucknow | Available | Available |
| Jaipur | Available | Available |
| Smaller cities | Limited | Expanding |
Where Excitel is wired to your building, it usually wins on value. Where it is not, JioFiber is the broader fallback, since its footprint stretches well past the metros.
Router and Login Differences
The gateway and login experience splits the two providers harder than any price tier does, and plan tables never show it.
Excitel hands out GPON ONTs, most often a Syrotech unit, with Nokia and TP-Link boxes in some areas. They default to the standard 192.168.1.1 gateway, and the factory login is usually admin / admin (some Syrotech units print a password on the label or use a separate user account). Because Excitel authenticates by IPoE, the line is recognised automatically and there is no PPPoE username or password to enter. Adding your own router is a matter of WAN-to-DHCP and a subnet change.
JioFiber is the opposite on the gateway. Its Jio Home Gateway and Nokia ONTs sit on 192.168.29.1, a deliberate move away from 192.168.1.1 to cut IP conflicts when customers add their own equipment. The default login is admin / Jiocentrum (note the capital J) on older units, with a label-printed password on newer Wi-Fi 6 gateways. The JioHome app resets the web password without a factory reset.
So the credential direction differs in two ways. Excitel keeps the common 192.168.1.1 address but a generic admin/admin pair; Jio uses an unusual gateway with a brand-specific Jiocentrum password. If you type 192.168.1.1 on a Jio line, nothing loads, which is the most common Jio login mistake. Full step-by-step setup, model tables, and own-router instructions live on the Excitel router login guide and the Jio Fiber router login guide.
Which Should You Choose?
| Use Case | Pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best speed per rupee | Excitel | 100 Mbps for Rs 399 vs Jio’s 30 Mbps |
| No data cap needed | Excitel | Every plan is uncapped |
| Simplest own-router setup | Excitel | IPoE means no PPPoE credentials |
| Need mobile plus broadband | Jio | Excitel sells no mobile service |
| Speed above 400 Mbps | JioFiber | Excitel tops out at 400 Mbps |
| OTT streaming bundles | JioFiber | Disney+ and Netflix on premium tiers |
| City Excitel does not cover | JioFiber | Wider national footprint |
Excitel is the better broadband-only buy where it reaches you. JioFiber earns its higher price when you want mobile, fibre, and OTT under one bill, or when Excitel simply is not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Excitel cheaper than Jio? At matched speeds, yes. Excitel’s 100 Mbps costs Rs 399 against JioFiber’s Rs 599, and the gap widens at 200 and 300 Mbps. JioFiber’s Rs 399 entry plan only delivers 30 Mbps.
What is the router gateway for each? Excitel uses 192.168.1.1 and JioFiber uses 192.168.29.1. Typing the wrong one is the usual reason a login page fails to load on Jio.
Can I use my own router on either? Yes on both. Excitel’s IPoE setup needs no PPPoE login, so WAN-to-DHCP works straight away. JioFiber also hands out DHCP behind its gateway, with no PPPoE credentials required.
Which has no data cap? Excitel runs all plans uncapped. JioFiber applies a 3.3 TB monthly limit.
Summary
Excitel delivers the strongest fibre value in India: 100 Mbps uncapped for Rs 399, with the simplest own-router path thanks to IPoE on 192.168.1.1. The trade-off is reach, about 60 cities, and no mobile service.
JioFiber answers with a wider ecosystem, mobile plus fibre plus OTT across 150-plus cities, at the cost of higher per-tier pricing, a 3.3 TB cap, and the less familiar 192.168.29.1 gateway. For login and setup on either provider, see the India ISP router login guides.
Last Updated: June 19, 2026 Data Sources: Excitel.com, Jio.com, TRAI data