Summary:
TRAI data for May 2026 shows that BSNL added wireless mobile subscribers in 11 telecom circles, led by Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala, despite an overall nationwide decline of 104,660 subscribers. Growth was also recorded in Himachal Pradesh, UP West, Gujarat, UP East, Punjab, Kolkata, and the North East, but heavy losses in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam outweighed these gains. Meanwhile, India’s overall wireless subscriber base grew by over 5 million users during the month, driven by strong additions from Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea, leaving BSNL with a mixed performance marked by regional gains but a national decline.
According to the latest telecom subscription figures released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) recorded growth in its wireless mobile subscriber base across 11 telecom circles during May 2026, despite an overall decline in its nationwide subscriber count. The strongest additions came from Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala. Haryana led the gains with 18,060 new subscribers, increasing BSNL’s mobile base from 4,559,710 in April to 4,577,770 in May.
Rajasthan followed with an addition of 15,058 subscribers, taking its total from 5,742,178 to 5,757,236. Karnataka registered a net gain of 13,968 users as its subscriber base grew from 4,725,412 to 4,739,380, while Kerala added 9,535 subscribers, increasing from 8,961,337 to 8,970,872 during the month.
Subscriber Growth Also Recorded in Seven Other Circles
BSNL also expanded its mobile customer base in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (West), Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (East), Punjab, Kolkata, and the North East telecom circle. Himachal Pradesh recorded an increase of 8,375 subscribers, raising the operator’s base from 1,780,772 to 1,789,147. Uttar Pradesh (West) added 6,523 users, while Gujarat saw an increase of 3,347 subscribers.
Further gains included 2,262 subscribers in Uttar Pradesh (East), 1,860 in Punjab, 1,604 in Kolkata, and 231 in the North East circle.
These additions indicate that BSNL continued to witness positive subscriber momentum in several regional markets, even as it faced broader challenges nationally.
Overall Subscriber Count Declined Nationwide
Despite growth in these circles, BSNL’s total wireless mobile subscriber base fell at the national level during May 2026. TRAI data showed that the operator’s subscriber count declined from 93,019,648 at the end of April to 92,914,988 by the end of May, representing a net loss of 104,660 subscribers.
The nationwide decline was largely driven by losses in several telecom circles. Bihar recorded the highest drop with 72,449 subscribers, followed by Tamil Nadu (41,481), Maharashtra (32,451), Andhra Pradesh (22,412), Madhya Pradesh (7,571), and Assam (4,941).
The reductions in these regions outweighed the subscriber additions registered in the 11 circles where BSNL posted growth.
India’s Mobile Subscriber Base Continued to Expand
India’s overall wireless mobile subscriber base continued to grow during May 2026, increasing from 1,271,904,668 in April to 1,276,998,869 in May, reflecting a net addition of 5,094,201 subscribers.
Among private operators, Bharti Airtel led the monthly gains by adding 2,926,907 mobile subscribers, followed by Reliance Jio with 2,154,468 additions and Vodafone Idea with 121,289 new users. BSNL and MTNL were the only operators to report an overall decline in their national subscriber bases.
For BSNL, the May 2026 figures present a mixed performance. While the company experienced an overall decline in subscribers nationwide, growth in Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, and seven other telecom circles highlights continued traction in select regional markets.
