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Jio, Airtel Add Millions of Users as Vodafone Idea, BSNL Keep Losing

India's wireless subscriber base grew in December 2025, driven by significant gains for Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. In contrast, Vodafone Idea and state-owned BSNL continued to report net subscriber losses. The overall telephone subscriber base increased to 1.306 billion, with broadband users crossing the one-billion mark. The data also highlights a high volume of Mobile Number Portability requests, indicating sustained market churn.

Key Points: Jio, Airtel Gain Wireless Subscribers; Vi, BSNL Lose in Dec 2025

  • Jio & Airtel gain 8.38M users
  • Vodafone Idea loses 0.94M
  • BSNL loses 0.206M
  • India's total telephone base hits 1,306B
2 min read

Airtel, Jio gain wireless subscribers in December; Vodafone Idea, BSNL continue to lose users

TRAI data shows Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel added millions of wireless subscribers in December 2025, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL continued to lose users.

"The gains for both of them were largely spread across multiple licensed service areas. - TRAI Data Report"

New Delhi, February 10

India's wireless subscriber base expanded in December 2025, but subscriber movement remained sharply uneven across operators, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel emerging as the major gainers, while Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd continued to report net losses, according to operator-wise data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

TRAI's month-on-month data showed that Bharti Airtel added 5.42 million subscribers. Reliance Jio added approximately 2.96 million wireless subscribers during the month.

The gains for both of them were largely spread across multiple licensed service areas.

In contrast, Vodafone Idea recorded a net loss of around 9.4 lakh wireless subscribers in December, continuing a trend of subscriber erosion seen over previous months.

State-owned BSNL also reported a decline of about 2.06 lakh wireless subscribers during the month. Despite marginal gains in a few circles, the PSU operator's overall wireless base continued to contract, according to the data.

Compiling all operators, the net wireless (mobile) subscriber base additions were 7.23 million during December.

India's overall total telephone subscriber base, wireless and wireline, increased to 1,306 billion as of December 2025, registering a monthly growth rate of 0.66 per cent, according to data released by the telecom regulator. The expansion was largely driven by the wireless segment, which continued to add the bulk of new users during the month, according to the data.

The number of wireless subscribers, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA), rose to 1.258 billion, recording a net addition of 8.21 million subscribers in December.

Wireless tele-density improved to 88.41 per cent, with a sharp contrast between urban tele-density at 140.66 per cent and rural tele-density at 59.07 per cent, according to TRAI data.

The wireline segment also posted modest growth during the month. Wireline subscribers increased from 47.05 million in November to 47.37 million in December 2025, marking a monthly growth rate of 0.68 per cent.

Urban areas continued to dominate the segment, while rural wireline tele-density remained low, according to the regulator data.

In the broadband segment, total subscribers crossed the one-billion mark, reaching 1,007.35 million at the end of December. Mobile wireless broadband remained the dominant access mode.

In fixed wireless access, 5G FWA subscribers grew by 5.59 per cent month over month, underscoring the gradual uptake of next-generation broadband services nationwide.

The TRAI report also pointed to sustained churn in the mobile market. In December 2025, approximately 16.12 million subscribers submitted Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The rural tele-density number (59%) is still worrying. While Jio and Airtel fight in cities, villages are being left behind. True digital India means connectivity for all, not just urban centers. Hope the focus shifts there soon. 📱
A
Aman W
Jio adding nearly 3 million users even now shows their 5G push is working. But honestly, the prices are creeping up. Hope competition remains healthy, a duopoly of Airtel and Jio won't be good for our pockets in the long run.
S
Sarah B
Working in tech, the growth in 5G FWA is the real story here. 5.59% monthly growth is significant. This could be a game-changer for home broadband in areas without fiber. Exciting times for India's digital infrastructure!
K
Karthik V
16.12 million MNP requests! That's massive churn. People are clearly voting with their feet (or their numbers). Vi needs to stop the bleeding fast or it might be too late. It's survival of the fittest now.
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Nisha Z
I have a slightly different take. While Airtel and Jio are winning, I feel a bit for the employees at Vi and BSNL. Hope the government has a plan to manage this transition without massive job losses. The human cost matters too.

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