According to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio emerged as the top telecom operator in March 2025, adding 2.17 million new wireless subscribers. This accounted for 74% of the total new subscriber additions across the telecom sector in India for the month.
Jio's strong performance further consolidates its position as the market leader, continuing its growth streak with 1.76 million additions in February and 0.68 million in January.
Bharti Airtel, the second-largest operator, continued to witness a deceleration in its subscriber growth. In March, the company added 1.25 million users, down from 1.59 million in February and 1.65 million in January. The slowing momentum may signal a saturation in urban markets or increased competition from Jio’s aggressive 5G and FWA expansion.
Vodafone Idea (Vi), the struggling telecom operator, saw an uptick in user attrition in March. The company lost 0.54 million subscribers, a sharp rise compared to just 20,720 users lost in February. In January, Vi had reported a loss of 1.33 million users, indicating continued challenges in retaining customers amid delayed 5G rollout and limited network investments.
State-owned BSNL recorded a positive shift in March 2025 by adding 49,177 new users. This marks a reversal from the 0.56 million and 0.15 million user losses in February and January respectively. BSNL has been focusing on budget-conscious customers and is targeting a nationwide rollout of its indigenous 4G network with 100,000 towers by June 2025.
Despite the recent gain, BSNL’s user base had previously seen volatility after large additions in mid-2024 due to unchanged tariffs and entry-level plans that attracted value-focused customers.
In terms of overall market share, Jio and Airtel both strengthened their positions in March. Jio's wireless market share rose to 40.6%, while Airtel reached 33.69%. This growth came largely at the expense of BSNL, whose market share declined to 7.87%. Vodafone Idea retained 17.75% of the market.
The total number of mobile connections in India increased by 2.94 million in March, registering a 0.25% growth. The surge highlights continued mobile penetration in both urban and semi-urban regions, led by Jio and Airtel’s expanding 5G services.
India’s 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market continued its upward trajectory. By the end of March, there were 6.76 million FWA users—a 7.94% increase from February’s 6.27 million. Reliance Jio dominates this space, with 5.57 million subscribers, representing 82.3% of the FWA market. The remaining users were attributed to Airtel.
FWA provides high-speed internet through wireless signals, eliminating the need for traditional wired infrastructure. A specialized CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) such as a fixed outdoor antenna or indoor router converts these signals into Wi-Fi or Ethernet for home and office use.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) remained high in March, with 13.54 million requests submitted, up from 12.06 million in February. The increase reflects heightened competition among telcos and growing user demand for flexible service providers with better data and voice offerings.
India's wireline subscriber base also saw a modest rise in March. The total number of connections grew by 0.13 million or 0.37%, bringing the overall wireline user base to 37.04 million. The growth indicates gradual progress in broadband and enterprise-level telecom services.
Conclusion
Reliance Jio’s dominance in subscriber growth, paired with strong 5G FWA expansion, signals its continued lead in India’s telecom sector. Meanwhile, Airtel’s growth slowdown and Vi’s ongoing user losses highlight a shifting competitive landscape. With BSNL showing signs of recovery and wireline connections growing steadily, India's telecom sector remains dynamic in early 2025.