Telecom – India’s Subscriber Base Sees Steady Rise in February 2026
Telecom – India’s telecommunications sector continued its upward trajectory in February 2026, with the total number of telephone subscribers reaching 1,321.31 million, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The sector added 7.31 million new users during the month, reflecting a modest yet consistent growth rate of 0.56 percent.
Broadband Expansion Drives Overall Growth
A key factor behind this increase was the steady expansion of broadband services. The number of broadband users rose from 1,052.72 million at the end of January to 1,059.05 million by February’s close. This growth highlights the continuing demand for high-speed internet across both urban and rural regions, as digital services become more integral to daily life.
In terms of market leadership, Reliance Jio Infocomm retained its dominant position with over 519 million subscribers. Bharti Airtel followed with more than 364 million users, while Vodafone Idea and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) recorded 129.36 million and 28.70 million subscribers respectively. Together, the top five service providers accounted for nearly the entire broadband market, holding a combined share of 98.60 percent.
Fixed Broadband and Wireline Segment Show Gains
Within the wired broadband category, Reliance Jio led with 14.10 million users, while Bharti Airtel and BSNL reported 10.54 million and 4.43 million subscribers respectively. The overall wireline segment also recorded growth, with total connections rising to 47.99 million. This marked an addition of 0.34 million subscribers and a monthly increase of 0.70 percent.
Urban areas continued to dominate the wireline market, accounting for 89.41 percent of subscribers. Rural regions, while still smaller in share, contributed 10.59 percent, indicating gradual expansion beyond cities. Public sector providers, including BSNL, MTNL, and APSFL, collectively held 19.12 percent of the wireline market at the end of February.
Wireless Services Continue to Lead Connectivity
Wireless services remained the backbone of India’s telecom ecosystem. The total number of wireless subscribers, including mobile and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), stood at 1,273.31 million. Of these, urban areas accounted for 730.75 million users, while rural subscriptions reached 542.56 million.
The data also showed a slight improvement in wireless tele-density, which rose from 88.87 percent in January to 89.30 percent in February. Urban regions maintained significantly higher penetration levels, with tele-density reaching 142.32 percent, indicating multiple connections per individual in some cases.
Private telecom operators continued to dominate the wireless segment, holding a combined market share of 92.59 percent. In comparison, public sector operators such as BSNL and MTNL accounted for 7.41 percent of the market.
High Mobility Reflected in Portability Requests
Consumer mobility remained strong during the reporting period. A total of 14.47 million users submitted requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP), reflecting ongoing competition among service providers and customer willingness to switch networks for better services or pricing.
Additionally, the number of active wireless subscribers reached 1,177.60 million at peak Visitor Location Register (VLR) levels, indicating a high proportion of engaged users within the network.
Overall Tele-Density Continues to Improve
When including machine-to-machine (M2M) cellular connections, India’s overall tele-density climbed to 92.66 percent. This suggests that connectivity is steadily expanding across sectors, including emerging technologies and industrial applications.
The latest data reflects a stable and growing telecom landscape, supported by rising internet usage, expanding infrastructure, and continued competition among operators. While urban regions still lead in adoption, gradual improvements in rural connectivity indicate broader digital inclusion in the months ahead.