Reliance Jio has further cemented its dominance in the Indian telecommunications sector, crossing the landmark 50-crore (500 million) total subscriber mark for the first time, according to the latest subscriber report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released on Monday. The data for September 2025 underscores a market in flux, with Jio leading growth while state-owned BSNL emerged as a surprising challenger in new mobile user additions.
Jio’s impressive performance was spearheaded by a dual-track growth strategy. The telecom giant added a net 32.49 lakh (3.249 million) new mobile subscribers, bolstering its wireless base. Simultaneously, it solidified its lead in the high-value wireline (broadband) segment by adding a robust 2,12,662 new subscribers. This sustained growth propelled Jio’s total subscriber base to over 50.64 crore, making it the first operator to breach the 50-crore threshold.
BSNL Surges, Outstrips Airtel in Mobile Adds
In a notable development, the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) maintained its lead over Bharti Airtel in net mobile subscriber additions for the month. BSNL added 5.24 lakh new mobile users, surpassing Airtel, which recorded 4.37 lakh net additions. This performance indicates a continuing positive reception to BSNL's revamped services and packages in certain segments of the market.
Despite BSNL's stronger growth in new additions, the overall active wireless subscriber base for the country stood at 108.85 crore, with Airtel maintaining its position as the second-largest player by total subscribers.
Vodafone Idea’s Subscriber Exodus Continues
The report also highlighted the ongoing struggles for Vodafone Idea (Vi), which continued to bleed subscribers. Vi lost a net 7.44 lakh mobile customers in September, further shrinking its user base. Other operators facing losses included MTNL, which shed 56,928 subscribers, and the nearly-defunct Reliance Communications, which lost 13.
Wireline: A Two-Horse Race with Jio in the Lead
The wireline segment, often seen as a indicator of premium and broadband connectivity, remained a stronghold for Reliance Jio. Following Jio, Bharti Airtel was a distant second, adding 97,383 new wireline customers. Reliance Communications also saw a minor gain of 6,456 subscribers in this segment.
The biggest loser in the wireline space was Tata Teleservices, which witnessed a significant decline of 1.63 lakh subscribers. It was followed by MTNL (-32,930), APSFL (-19,049), and others.
Broadband Nears 100-Crore Landmark
India’s total broadband subscriber base is now on the cusp of a historic 100-crore subscribers, inching up by about half a percent to 99.56 crore. The wireless segment contributes 95.12 crore to this number, while wireline accounts for 4.44 crore.
Unsurprisingly, Reliance Jio leads the broadband market with a commanding 50.54 crore customers. The top five broadband service providers, who collectively hold a 98.5% market share, are:
Reliance Jio: 50.54 crore
Bharti Airtel: 31 crore
Vodafone Idea: 12.77 crore
BSNL: 3.47 crore
Overall, the country's total telecom subscriber base grew marginally to 122.89 crore in September, with the wireless segment accounting for 118.23 crore and wireline for 4.66 crore customers. The data paints a picture of a maturing market where growth is increasingly driven by bundled services and fibre-based broadband, with Reliance Jio continuing to set the pace.
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We want BSNLbon top