India’s Internet Subscriber Base Rises to 1.03 Billion in Dec Quarter: TRAI

The total number of internet subscribers in India increased from 1,017.81 million at the end of the September 2025 quarter to 1,028.61 million by the end of December 2025, registering a quarterly growth rate of 1.06 per cent, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Of the 1,028.61 million internet subscribers, 45.32 million are wired users, while 983.29 million access the internet through wireless services, indicating the continued dominance of wireless connectivity in the country.

Broadband Growth, Narrowband Decline

The overall internet subscriber base comprises 1,007.35 million broadband users and 21.25 million narrowband users. The broadband subscriber base grew by 1.18 per cent, rising from 995.63 million in September 2025 to 1,007.35 million in December 2025.

However, the narrowband subscriber base declined by 4.18 per cent, dropping from 22.18 million at the end of September to 21.25 million by the end of December 2025, reflecting the gradual shift toward faster broadband connections.

Increase in Wireline Subscribers and Tele-density

The number of wireline telephone subscribers increased from 46.61 million in September to 47.37 million in December 2025, recording a quarterly growth rate of 1.62 per cent. On a year-on-year basis, wireline subscriptions registered a 20.63 per cent increase by the end of the December 2025 quarter.

Correspondingly, wireline tele-density improved from 3.29 per cent in September to 3.33 per cent in December 2025, marking a quarterly growth of 1.23 per cent.

Wireless ARPU Sees Modest Rise

The monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services increased by 1.87 per cent, rising from Rs 190.99 in the September quarter to ₹194.57 in the December 2025 quarter. On a year-on-year basis, wireless ARPU grew 7.03 per cent during the quarter.

For the quarter ending December 2025, the average monthly ARPU for prepaid users stood at ₹194.12, while postpaid users recorded a higher ARPU of ₹199.05.

Telephone Subscriber Base and Tele-density Improve

India’s total telephone subscriber base increased from 1,228.94 million to 1,306.14 million during the quarter, registering a growth rate of 6.28 per cent. On a year-on-year basis, the subscriber base grew 9.77 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.

As a result, overall tele-density in India rose from 86.65 per cent in September to 91.74 per cent by the end of December 2025.

TRAI Releases Telecom Performance Report

TRAI on Tuesday released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the quarter ending December 2025. The report provides a comprehensive overview of telecom services in India and highlights key performance indicators and growth trends across telecom services, as well as Cable TV, DTH, and radio broadcasting services, based primarily on data submitted by service providers.

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