India’s internet and broadband subscriber base continues to expand, reflecting growing digital adoption, rising data consumption and increasing demand for reliable connectivity across the country.
India’s digital connectivity has continued to expand, with the country’s internet subscriber base reaching approximately 110 crore in March 2026. The growth reflects the increasing use of digital platforms across governance, business, communication and public services.
The expansion of internet access has also contributed to higher demand for data-intensive services, including online payments, digital transactions and cloud-based applications.
Average monthly wireless data consumption increased to 25.51 gigabytes (GB) per subscriber. Meanwhile, total wireless data usage reached 285,376 petabytes during FY26, highlighting the scale of internet activity across the country.
The growing use of digital services has increased the volume of information generated, transmitted and stored across networks.
Online payment systems and digital public service platforms are among the areas contributing to this expansion. As more individuals and businesses rely on internet-based services, the need for dependable infrastructure to manage data has become increasingly important.
Cloud computing is playing a growing role in meeting these requirements. It provides users and organisations with on-demand access to storage, servers, software and computing resources through the internet.
Such infrastructure helps businesses and service providers manage information, process data and expand their digital operations without depending entirely on physical computing facilities.
According to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the country's broadband subscriber base increased from 1,101.21 million at the end of August 2026 to 1,107.68 million at the end of September 2026.
This represents monthly growth of 0.59%, indicating continued expansion in broadband connectivity.
The increase highlights the growing demand for internet access among households, businesses and institutions. Broadband services remain an important part of India's digital infrastructure, supporting communication, entertainment, education, commerce and online public services.
TRAI data also showed that India's total telephone subscriber base rose to 1,367.93 million in September 2026. The country's overall tele-density, which measures the number of telephone connections relative to the population, increased to 95.52%.
Wireless connections continued to account for a major share of the telecom market. The number of wireless subscribers reached 1,319.19 million during the month.
Of these, 1,212.80 million mobile subscribers were active on the date of peak Visitor Location Register (VLR). The VLR figure provides an indication of the number of subscribers actively using mobile networks during the measured period.
The adoption of newer connectivity technologies is also contributing to the development of India's telecom ecosystem.
The number of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) subscribers increased to 13.61 million. This technology delivers broadband connectivity through wireless networks and can provide an alternative to traditional wired connections.
Machine-to-machine (M2M) cellular mobile connections also continued to grow, reaching 144.85 million.
M2M connectivity allows devices to exchange information over cellular networks with limited or no direct human intervention. It supports applications across areas such as connected devices, industrial operations and automated systems.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and Bharti Airtel Ltd. remained the leading players in India's broadband segment in September 2026. According to the TRAI figures, Jio recorded 541.17 million broadband subscribers, while Airtel had 388.86 million.
Their subscriber bases underline the significant role of major telecom operators in expanding broadband access and supporting India's growing demand for digital connectivity.
The latest TRAI figures highlight the continued expansion of India's internet and telecom ecosystem. Rising broadband subscriptions, higher wireless data consumption and growing adoption of 5G FWA and M2M connections reflect the country's increasing dependence on digital services.
As connectivity expands, investments in reliable networks, cloud computing and data infrastructure will remain important for supporting India's digital transformation across industries and public services.
Conclusion
India’s growing internet and broadband subscriber base highlights the rapid expansion of its digital ecosystem. Rising data consumption, wider 5G adoption and increasing M2M connections are creating greater demand for reliable telecom and cloud infrastructure. With Jio and Airtel leading the broadband segment, continued network expansion and technological investment will be essential to supporting India’s digital transformation and meeting future connectivity needs.