Summary:
India’s telecom sector recorded strong growth during the January–March 2026 quarter, with the addition of over 64 million internet subscribers and more than 24 million telephone connections, according to TRAI. The total internet user base crossed 1.09 billion, driven largely by wireless broadband adoption, while the overall telephone subscriber count rose to 1.33 billion, pushing tele-density to 93.26%. Wireless services remained the key growth engine, supported by rising ARPU, higher voice usage, and increasing data consumption. The industry also reported robust revenue growth, while the broadcasting sector saw mixed trends, including a slight decline in DTH subscribers and continued expansion of FM radio and community radio services. Overall, the report reflects India’s accelerating digital connectivity and strengthening telecom infrastructure.
India’s telecom and internet landscape witnessed strong expansion during the January–March 2026 period, with the country adding over 64 million internet users and more than 24 million telephone subscribers, according to the latest Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report released by TRAI.
The total internet subscriber base rose from 1,028.61 million in December 2025 to 1,092.79 million by March 2026, registering a quarterly growth of 6.24%. Wireless internet users accounted for 1,046.26 million subscriptions, while wired connections stood at 46.54 million. Broadband services continued to dominate the segment with a subscriber base of 1,065.88 million.
India’s overall telephone connections also recorded substantial growth, increasing from 1,306.14 million to 1,330.58 million during the quarter. As a result, tele-density improved from 91.74% to 93.26%, reflecting wider telecom reach across both urban and rural areas.
Wireless services remained the primary driver of growth, with the combined mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) subscriber base rising by 23.56 million to 1,282.33 million. Wireless tele-density climbed to 89.88% by the end of the quarter.
Telecom operators also reported stronger revenue metrics. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for wireless services increased to ₹196.04 per month, while average monthly voice usage reached 1,017 minutes per subscriber. Monthly wireless data consumption rose to 26.70 GB per user, underscoring the growing demand for digital services and data-intensive applications.
Financially, the industry maintained healthy momentum, with Gross Revenue (GR) touching ₹1.05 lakh crore and Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) reaching ₹86,716 crore, showing growth both sequentially and on a year-on-year basis.
In the broadcasting sector, India had 917 private satellite television channels authorised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Among the channels available for downlinking, 342 were pay-TV services and 566 were free-to-air channels.
The Direct-to-Home (DTH) segment saw a marginal decline in active subscribers, falling from 50.99 million to 49.05 million during the quarter. Meanwhile, the private FM radio industry expanded, with operational stations increasing from 385 to 390 across 120 cities. Community radio also continued its growth trajectory, reaching 564 operational stations nationwide.
The report highlights the continued strengthening of India’s telecom ecosystem through rising connectivity, higher internet adoption, and expanding digital infrastructure, supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
