India's telecom landscape witnessed a clear leader in November 2025, with Reliance Jio continuing its impressive run of subscriber additions. According to the latest monthly data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio not only led the industry in total wireless additions but was also the sole major operator to gain active users during a month of overall sector contraction.
Jio Defies Industry Downturn with Strong Gains
The TRAI report painted a contrasting picture for the industry. While the total base of active subscribers, measured by the Visitor Location Register (VLR), fell by a significant 3.4 million to 1,091 million, Jio managed to swim against the tide. The telecom giant added a net 1.2 million subscribers in November, marking the ninth consecutive month it has extended its lead over its closest competitor, Bharti Airtel.
This performance was starkly different from its rivals. Vodafone Idea (VIL) experienced a substantial drop, losing 2.2 million active users. Bharti Airtel also recorded a net decline, shedding 1.7 million active subscribers. This dynamic meant Jio was the only major player to post positive gains in a shrinking market.
Market Share and Regional Dominance
Jio's subscriber momentum directly translated into increased market clout. Analysts at Morgan Stanley highlighted that Jio's market share rose to 43.7%, a month-on-month increase of 25 basis points. Concurrently, all other operators lost market share. This growth further narrowed the active subscriber share gap between Jio and Bharti Airtel to a record low.
The company's gains were geographically widespread. Jio managed to increase its VLR market share in 17 out of India's 22 telecom circles. The most notable surges were observed in the Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab regions, underscoring its pan-India expansion strategy.
Broadband and Fixed Wireless Leadership
Jio's dominance was not limited to mobile services. In the broader broadband segment, which includes mobile broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and unlicensed band radio (UBR), Jio captured approximately 68% of all net additions. It maintained its lead over Airtel in total broadband rollouts, primarily driven by its aggressive UBR expansion, which alone added 0.35 million users in November.
The fixed wireless segment, a key battleground for home connectivity, saw Jio pull ahead decisively. Morgan Stanley noted that Jio added almost 2.5 times more FWA subscribers (combining 5G FWA and UBR) compared to Airtel. While both companies added an equal number of 5G FWA subscribers (0.25 million each), Jio's additional gains in the UBR category solidified its top position in the home broadband market.
Industry Outlook and ARPU Potential
Despite the monthly dip in active subscribers for the sector, the broader trend for 2025 remains positive. Industry observers point out that the active subscriber additions for the calendar year to date are at a nine-year high. This robust growth in the user base, coupled with rising data consumption across the country, is expected to create a favorable environment for future price stability and growth.
Market experts believe that the current trends in subscriber additions and deepening data penetration will likely support future growth in the critical metric of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). As the market structure remains healthy with strong competition, the overall sector is poised for sustainable expansion.
