Jio Leads Telecom Growth as Airtel and BSNL Gain

The Indian telecom market saw significant shifts in October 2025. According to TRAI’s latest report, Reliance Jio continued to dominate the sector with the highest subscriber additions, while Airtel and BSNL achieved steady growth. However, Vodafone Idea faced another month of decline as it lost a large number of customers.

Telecom Market Update: Jio Strong, Airtel Stable, BSNL Recovering, Vodafone Idea Falls Behind

The month of October 2025 brought notable changes to the Indian telecom sector. As per TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) data, Reliance Jio once again strengthened its position as the leading telecom operator by adding the largest number of new customers. In contrast, Vodafone Idea (Vi), already struggling for months, witnessed a further drop in its user base. Airtel and BSNL also recorded subscriber growth, highlighting the ongoing competitiveness in the Indian telecom market.

Jio Adds Around 20 Lakh New Subscribers

TRAI reports that Reliance Jio added 19.97 lakh new wireless subscribers in October—the highest monthly increase among all operators. With this addition, Jio’s total mobile user base has reached 48.47 crore, representing about 41% of the total mobile market share in India. Rapid 4G and 5G expansion, affordable plans, and deep rural network penetration have been the key factors behind Jio’s strong growth.

Airtel Shows Steady Progress with 12.52 Lakh New Users

Like Jio, Bharti Airtel also reported solid growth in October with 12.52 lakh new subscriber additions. Its total subscriber count increased from 39.24 crore to 39.36 crore. Over recent years, Airtel has invested heavily in improving network quality and enhancing 4G/5G services, which has helped it attract more premium customers. Despite not matching Jio’s numbers, Airtel continues stable growth. The company’s ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) remains higher than Jio’s, keeping it in a financially strong position.

Good Month for BSNL

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) added 2.69 lakh new customers in October 2025, increasing its total subscriber base to 9.25 crore. BSNL has been working on network upgrades and 4G-5G rollout for a long time. The report indicates that BSNL still holds strong preference in rural regions. Although growth is slower compared to private operators, the company appears to be gradually rebuilding its customer base.

Vodafone Idea Faces More Trouble

Vodafone Idea experienced a disappointing month, losing 20.83 lakh subscribers and reducing its total user base from 20.28 crore to 20.07 crore. For several consecutive months, Vi has been struggling to retain customers due to financial challenges, limited network investment, weaker 4G coverage, and delayed 5G rollout. This continued decline raises questions about the company's long-term stability.

India’s Mobile User Base Reaches 118.4 Crore

According to TRAI, the total number of mobile (wireless) users in India reached 118.4 crore in October 2025, marking a 0.19% increase from September. Jio and Airtel played a significant role in this growth, whereas BSNL contributed moderately. Vodafone Idea’s decline had minimal effect on the overall market due to higher gains by other operators.

Broadband Subscribers Close to 100 Crore

The TRAI report states that India had 99.98 crore broadband users by the end of October, up by nearly 42 lakh from September—a growth of 0.42%. The rise is driven by growing demand for digital services such as online streaming, e-learning, UPI payments, and cloud-based platforms. With expanding 5G reach, broadband subscriptions are likely to surpass the 100 crore mark soon.

Slight Growth in Wireline Connections

Wireline (landline) subscriptions increased to 4.675 crore (46.75 million) in October 2025, showing a monthly rise of 0.14 million (0.30%). Urban regions dominate wireline usage with 8.16% tele-density, while rural tele-density remains low at 0.55%. Around 89.36% of wireline users belong to urban areas, reflecting higher demand for high-speed fiber internet in cities compared to rural zones.