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Jio Extends Lead Over Airtel for 9th Month with 1.2 Million New Subscribers

Reliance Jio solidified its market leadership by adding 1.2 million wireless subscribers in November 2025, marking its ninth consecutive month of outperforming Bharti Airtel. While the overall industry lost 3.4 million active users, Jio was the sole major operator to post positive gains, as Airtel and Vodafone Idea reported significant declines. The operator expanded its market share to 43.7% and dominated broadband additions, particularly in fixed wireless access. This sustained growth is narrowing the active subscriber gap with Airtel to a record low, setting a positive stage for future ARPU growth in the sector.

Key Points: Jio Subscriber Growth Leads Telecom, Gains on Airtel

  • Jio adds 1.2M users
  • Only operator with active user gains
  • Leads in broadband & FWA
  • Market share gap with Airtel narrows
2 min read

Jio dominates November subscriber count with 1.2 million additions; Extends lead over Airtel for 9th consecutive month

Jio added 1.2 million subscribers in Nov 2025, gaining market share for the 9th straight month while rivals Airtel and Vi lost active users.

"RJio's market share rose to 43.7% (+25bps MoM), while all other operators lost market share MoM. - Morgan Stanley"

New Delhi, January 3

Reliance Jio continued its subscriber growth in November 2025, leading the industry in overall wireless additions and active user gains as per the latest monthly subscription data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

The TRAI data showed that Jio added 1.2 million subscribers, extending its lead over Bharti Airtel for the ninth consecutive month.

The performance came during a period when the industry's total active (Visitor Location Register) subscribers fell by 3.4 million to 1,091 million. While other major operators reported net losses in active users, Jio was the only player to post positive gains.

Specifically, Vodafone Idea (VIL) saw a drop of 2.2 million active users, while Bharti Airtel recorded a decline of 1.7 million.

The momentum for Jio was reflected in its market share, with the operator gaining VLR share in 17 out of 22 telecom circles. The most significant gains were observed in the Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab regions.

Morgan Stanley noted that "RJio's market share rose to 43.7% (+25bps MoM), while all other operators lost market share MoM." This trend further reduced the active subscriber share gap between Jio and Bharti Airtel to an all-time low.

In the broadband segment, Jio maintained its dominance by capturing approximately 68 per cent of the total additions across mobile broadband, fixed wireless access (FWA), and unlicensed band radio (UBR). Jio remained ahead of Bharti Airtel in overall broadband rollouts primarily due to its UBR expansion, which added 0.35 million users during the month.

The data also highlighted Jio's strength in the fixed wireless segment. Morgan Stanley reported that "on FWA, Jio added almost 2.5x FWA subs (FWA 5G+ FWA UBR) vs Airtel." Both Jio and Bharti Airtel added 0.25 million 5G FWA subscribers each, but Jio's additional UBR gains solidified its lead in the home broadband category.

Despite the pullback in active subscribers during November, the sector's active additions for the 2025 calendar year to date remain at a nine-year high. Industry observers expect that the current subscriber additions and rising data penetration will support future growth in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) as the market construct remains favourable.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Switched to Jio Fiber last year and haven't looked back. Reliable and affordable. No wonder they're adding so many subscribers. Airtel's customer service was a nightmare for me.
R
Rohit P
While Jio's growth is impressive, a near-monopoly isn't good for any market in the long run. We need healthy competition to keep prices low and innovation high. Hope Airtel and Vi can bounce back.
S
Sarah B
The data shows a clear shift. Jio is investing in infrastructure where it counts. Their gains in J&K and Punjab are significant. It's not just about cheap plans anymore, it's about network quality.
V
Vikram M
Jio truly disrupted the market. From my chaiwala to my CA, everyone uses Jio. But honestly, their 5G coverage in my area (South Delhi) still has patches. Speed is great when it works, though! 📶
K
Kavya N
Worried about Vi. Losing 2.2 million active users in a month is huge. If they collapse, it will be a big problem for employment and will reduce our options as consumers. Hope the government is watching.

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