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India’s telephone subscriber base reached 1.368 billion at the end of September 2026, adding 7.23 million connections during the month,
according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Broadband subscriptions rose by 6.47 million to 1.108 billion,
including cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, highlighting continued growth in the country’s telecommunications market.
The Ministry of Communications published the figures on October 27. Total telephone subscriptions increased from 1,360.70 million in August to 1,367.93 million in September, representing monthly growth of 0.53%. Wireless connections accounted for 1,319.19 million subscriptions, while wireline connections totalled 48.74 million.
Wireless services recorded 6.94 million net additions during September, compared with approximately 290,000 in the wireline segment. The respective monthly growth rates were 0.53% and 0.60%. Wireless subscriptions include mobile connections and fixed wireless access services, as defined in the report.
Urban areas accounted for the larger share of telephone subscriber growth. Their subscriber base increased by 5.50 million to 807.78 million, while rural areas added 1.73 million connections to reach 560.16 million. Monthly growth stood at 0.69% in urban areas and 0.31% in rural areas.
Urban subscribers represented 59.05% of India’s total telephone connections at the end of September, compared with 40.95% in rural areas. The figures show that urban markets continued to contribute more to monthly additions, although rural areas also recorded an increase in connections.
Broadband subscriptions rose from 1,101.21 million in August to 1,107.68 million in September, a monthly increase of 0.59%. The total included 1,058.79 million wireless broadband subscriptions and 48.89 million wireline broadband subscriptions.
Excluding cellular M2M connections, the broadband subscriber base stood at 1,013.87 million. M2M connections allow devices to exchange information over networks with limited or no direct human intervention.
Their inclusion is important when interpreting the headline broadband total, as the figure does not represent only individual consumers’ internet connections.
Tele-density, which measures the number of telephone connections relative to the population, reached 95.52% when cellular M2M connections were included. Excluding these connections, the overall rate stood at 85.41%.
The difference between urban and rural tele-density remained substantial. Urban tele-density reached 155.85%, compared with 61.30% in rural areas. Urban tele-density can exceed 100% because individuals and organisations may hold multiple connections; the measure does not indicate the percentage of unique people using telecom services.
TRAI also reported 1,212.80 million active wireless mobile subscribers on operators’ respective peak Visitor Location Register (VLR) dates during September. A VLR is a network database used to track subscribers registered as present within a mobile network’s service area. Because the measurement is based on network registrations, it should not be interpreted as a count of unique individuals.
Meanwhile, 16.77 million subscribers submitted Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests during September. MNP allows customers to change telecom operators while retaining their existing mobile numbers. The figure represents requests submitted during the month, not necessarily completed transfers.
The September data provides a snapshot of India’s telecommunications market, with growth recorded in telephone subscriptions and broadband connections across wireless and wireline services. Urban areas contributed the majority of new telephone connections, while rural subscriptions also increased. The figures are based on information submitted by telecom service providers to TRAI.
The Ministry of Communications published the figures on October 27. Total telephone subscriptions increased from 1,360.70 million in August to 1,367.93 million in September, representing monthly growth of 0.53%. Wireless connections accounted for 1,319.19 million subscriptions, while wireline connections totalled 48.74 million.
Wireless services recorded 6.94 million net additions during September, compared with approximately 290,000 in the wireline segment. The respective monthly growth rates were 0.53% and 0.60%. Wireless subscriptions include mobile connections and fixed wireless access services, as defined in the report.
Urban areas accounted for the larger share of telephone subscriber growth. Their subscriber base increased by 5.50 million to 807.78 million, while rural areas added 1.73 million connections to reach 560.16 million. Monthly growth stood at 0.69% in urban areas and 0.31% in rural areas.
Urban subscribers represented 59.05% of India’s total telephone connections at the end of September, compared with 40.95% in rural areas. The figures show that urban markets continued to contribute more to monthly additions, although rural areas also recorded an increase in connections.
Broadband subscriptions rose from 1,101.21 million in August to 1,107.68 million in September, a monthly increase of 0.59%. The total included 1,058.79 million wireless broadband subscriptions and 48.89 million wireline broadband subscriptions.
Excluding cellular M2M connections, the broadband subscriber base stood at 1,013.87 million. M2M connections allow devices to exchange information over networks with limited or no direct human intervention.
Their inclusion is important when interpreting the headline broadband total, as the figure does not represent only individual consumers’ internet connections.
Tele-density, which measures the number of telephone connections relative to the population, reached 95.52% when cellular M2M connections were included. Excluding these connections, the overall rate stood at 85.41%.
The difference between urban and rural tele-density remained substantial. Urban tele-density reached 155.85%, compared with 61.30% in rural areas. Urban tele-density can exceed 100% because individuals and organisations may hold multiple connections; the measure does not indicate the percentage of unique people using telecom services.
TRAI also reported 1,212.80 million active wireless mobile subscribers on operators’ respective peak Visitor Location Register (VLR) dates during September. A VLR is a network database used to track subscribers registered as present within a mobile network’s service area. Because the measurement is based on network registrations, it should not be interpreted as a count of unique individuals.
Meanwhile, 16.77 million subscribers submitted Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests during September. MNP allows customers to change telecom operators while retaining their existing mobile numbers. The figure represents requests submitted during the month, not necessarily completed transfers.
The September data provides a snapshot of India’s telecommunications market, with growth recorded in telephone subscriptions and broadband connections across wireless and wireline services. Urban areas contributed the majority of new telephone connections, while rural subscriptions also increased. The figures are based on information submitted by telecom service providers to TRAI.
