India’s Wireless Subscriber Base Inches Up in October
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reported a modest rise in the country’s wireless subscriber count for October 2025. The total number of wireless (mobile + Fixed Wireless Access) users grew from 1,182.32 million at the end of September to 1,184.62 million at the end of October, a month‑on‑month increase of 0.19 %.
Reliance Jio leads the pack
- Jio added 1.997 million wireless subscribers in October, the highest net addition among all operators .
- This follows a 3.249 million gain in September, bringing Jio’s total wireless user base to about 484.7 million .
- Jio’s subscriber base grew 0.41 % month‑on‑month, keeping it firmly ahead of rivals .
BSNL sees a small uptick
- State‑owned BSNL added 0.269 million wireless subscribers, raising its share of the total wireless market to 7.92 % when combined with MTNL .
- The gain was driven mainly by rural connections, which rose from 530.27 million to 531.88 million .
Vodafone Idea (Vi) posts the biggest loss
- Vi lost 2.083 million wireless subscribers in October, dropping its total from roughly 202.8 million to 200.7 million .
- Its market share fell to 17.13 %, the lowest among the major private telecom service providers .
Airtel continues to expand
- Bharti Airtel added 1.252 million wireless subscribers, pushing its total to 393.7 million .
- Airtel now holds a 33.59 % share of the wireless market .
Urban vs. rural trends
- Urban wireless subscriptions edged down slightly, from 640.17 million to 639.99 million.
- Rural subscriptions rose from 530.27 million to 531.88 million, offsetting the urban dip .
Overall picture
The modest 0.19 % growth indicates a slowly recovering telecom market. Jio and Airtel are leading the charge. Meanwhile, Vi struggles to retain users. The shift toward rural connections is a notable trend this month.
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