The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its annual performance report for telecom services covering April 2025 to March 2026. The data shows significant expansion across wireless, wireline and broadband services, with over 130 million new telephone subscribers added during the year. The report compiles information from service providers to track growth trends in telecom, cable television, direct-to-home and radio broadcasting sectors.
Key facts
- Total telephone subscribers: 1,330.58 million as of 31 March 2026, up 10.81% from 1,200.80 million a year earlier
- Internet subscribers: 1,092.79 million, up 12.76% from 969.10 million; broadband subscribers now 1,065.88 million
- Wireless (mobile) subscribers: 1,265.73 million, up 9.40%; net addition of 108.74 million subscribers during the year
- Wireline subscribers: 48.25 million, up 30.25% from 37.04 million
- Overall tele-density: 93.26%, up from 85.04%; urban tele-density reached 151.47%
- Rural tele-density: 60.46%, up from 59.06%; rural telephone subscribers 551.79 million
- Adjusted Gross Revenue: Rs 3,34,659 crore, up 10.44% from Rs 3,03,025 crore
- Monthly wireless service ARPU: Rs 180.73, up 3.59% from Rs 174.46
- Wireless data subscribers: 1,026.75 million; monthly data usage per subscriber 25.51 GB
- Pay DTH subscribers: 49.05 million (down from 56.92 million a year earlier)
- Private FM radio stations: 390 across 120 cities; community radio stations 564
Wireless subscriber growth accelerates
India’s wireless subscriber base grew by 10.19% during 2025-26, reaching 1,282.33 million when counting both mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) services. The mobile segment alone added nearly 109 million subscribers during the year, pushing the mobile subscriber count to 1,265.73 million. Rural wireless penetration increased modestly from 58.40% to 59.08%, while urban wireless tele-density jumped significantly from 123.99% to 141.30%, indicating higher device ownership per person in cities.
Internet and data usage surge
Broadband adoption accelerated sharply, with broadband subscribers climbing 12.90% to 1,065.88 million. Nearly all internet subscribers (97.54%) now use broadband rather than slower narrowband services. Wireless data usage volumes expanded substantially, growing 24.74% from 228,779 petabytes to 285,376 petabytes annually. However, average revenue per gigabyte declined 10.59% to Rs 8.02, reflecting increased competition and data democratisation. Average monthly data consumption per subscriber reached 25.51 GB, up 18.49% from the previous year.
Urban expansion dominates; rural growth slows
Urban telephone subscribers increased 16.92% to 778.79 million, while rural subscribers grew only 3.20% to 551.79 million. Consequently, rural subscription’s share of total subscribers fell from 44.53% to 41.47%. Urban internet subscribers reached 651.93 million (126.80 per 100 population), nearly three times the rural rate of 48.31 per 100 population. This growing digital divide highlights continuing connectivity gaps outside metropolitan areas despite expanding infrastructure.
Revenue growth outpaces subscriber growth
The telecom sector’s financial performance strengthened significantly. Adjusted Gross Revenue grew 10.44%, outpacing the 10.81% subscriber growth, indicating higher spending per user. Gross Revenue reached Rs 4,04,067 crore, an 8.59% increase. The monthly average revenue per wireless user (ARPU) rose to Rs 180.73 for all services. Prepaid subscribers generated Rs 190.66 monthly ARPU compared to Rs 119.76 for postpaid users, reflecting that most subscribers still use prepaid plans.
Cable and broadcasting sectors face headwinds
Direct-to-home (DTH) pay television experienced subscriber losses, falling to 49.05 million from 56.92 million, likely reflecting competition from streaming services. Private satellite television channels remain extensive at 908 available for downlinking, including 342 pay channels (238 standard definition and 104 high definition). FM radio advertising revenue declined 11.09% to Rs 1,616.42 crore, though operational private FM stations expanded to 390 across 120 cities. Community radio stations, serving grassroots information needs, grew to 564 operational stations.
Regulatory revenue increases modestly
Government revenue from spectrum usage charges and licensing rose as the subscriber base expanded. Spectrum Usage Charges increased 6.12% to Rs 4,040 crore, while License Fees grew 10.40% to Rs 26,763 crore. Pass-through charges (which operators collect on behalf of government) decreased 13.63% to Rs 45,673 crore, reducing their proportion of gross revenue from 14.21% to 11.30%.
What this means for you
If you are a telecom consumer, improved rural connectivity and expanding broadband availability mean better service options are reaching smaller towns and villages, though urban areas continue attracting faster infrastructure deployment. Declining data prices and rising monthly data limits reflect intensifying competition that benefits users seeking affordable plans. Those planning to migrate from DTH to streaming services will find continued emphasis on satellite television alongside growing digital platforms. Students and job seekers should note that rural internet penetration remains significantly lower than urban, affecting access to online education and job portals in non-metropolitan regions.
Small businesses relying on broadband or wireless connectivity for operations benefit from improved service reliability metrics and competition-driven pricing. However, enterprises in rural areas continue facing service constraints compared to urban counterparts. Government bodies can use these indicators to identify persistent digital divides and plan targeted broadband expansion initiatives.
What happens next
The complete performance indicators report is available on TRAI’s website at www.trai.gov.in. Citizens or businesses with questions about the report can contact the TRAI Advisor for Finance and Economic Affairs, Shri Vijay Kumar, at +91-20907773 or advfea1@trai.gov.in.