India’s broadband subscriber base crossed the historic milestone of 1 billion users in November 2025, underlining the country’s extraordinary digital expansion over the past decade. According to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), broadband subscriptions rose to 1 billion (100.37 crore) by the end of November 2025, up from 999.81 million at the end of October 2025.
This achievement reflects the rapid adoption of mobile Internet services, the steady expansion of fixed and wireless broadband infrastructure, and sustained policy and investment support aimed at building a digitally inclusive India.
Broadband Subscribers Grow More Than Six Times in a Decade
TRAI data shows that India’s broadband subscriber base has increased by more than six times over the last 10 years. At the end of November 2015, the country had just 131.49 million broadband subscribers. Over the following decade, affordable smartphones, declining data tariffs, large scale 4G rollouts, and increasing digital services adoption drove exponential growth.
By November 2025, India added nearly 870 million new broadband connections compared with 2015, making it one of the largest broadband markets globally.
Mobile Internet Continues to Dominate Broadband Growth
Mobile Internet remains the backbone of broadband connectivity in India. Out of the total 999.81 million broadband subscribers recorded at the end of October 2025, a dominant 941.82 million users accessed the Internet through mobile networks.
Fixed wireless access (FWA) connections stood at 13.18 million, reflecting growing interest in last mile wireless broadband solutions, particularly in areas where fiber deployment is challenging. Fixed wired broadband subscribers totaled 44.82 million, indicating gradual but steady growth in fiber to the home and enterprise broadband segments.
Top Broadband Operators in India
The Indian broadband market continues to be led by private telecom operators, with Reliance Jio maintaining a significant lead. As of October 2025, the top broadband service providers in India were:
- Reliance Jio with 508.34 million broadband subscribers
Bharti Airtel with 312.53 million broadband subscribers
Vodafone Idea with 127.22 million broadband subscribers
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) with 34.39 million broadband subscribers
Atria Convergence Technologies with 2.35 million broadband subscribers
Together, these operators account for the vast majority of broadband users in the country, driven mainly by mobile Internet subscriptions.
Urban and Rural Internet Subscriber Distribution
TRAI data highlights a narrowing digital divide between urban and rural India, although disparities remain. Urban Internet subscribers stood at 590.11 million, while rural Internet subscribers reached 427.70 million, reflecting strong growth in connectivity beyond major cities.
In terms of Internet penetration, total Internet subscribers per 100 population reached 71.76 percent nationwide. Urban Internet subscribers per 100 population stood at an impressive 115.40 percent, indicating multiple connections per user in many urban households and enterprises. Rural penetration, while lower, continues to improve due to expanding mobile coverage and government backed digital inclusion initiatives.
Key Drivers Behind India’s Broadband Expansion
Several factors have contributed to India crossing the 1 billion broadband subscriber milestone. These include aggressive network rollouts by telecom operators, affordable data pricing, increasing availability of digital services such as online payments, streaming, education, and e governance platforms, and rising smartphone penetration across income segments.
Government initiatives promoting digital infrastructure, fiber deployment, and rural connectivity have also played a critical role in accelerating broadband adoption.
Outlook for India’s Broadband Market
With 5G deployments gaining momentum, fixed wireless access expected to expand, and fiber broadband gradually deepening its reach, India’s broadband subscriber base is likely to continue growing in the coming years. While the pace of growth may moderate compared with the explosive expansion of the past decade, the focus is expected to shift toward higher quality connectivity, faster speeds, and more reliable broadband services across both urban and rural regions.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
