India's Wireless Subscriber Base Expands in December 2025 with Jio and Airtel Leading Growth
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its latest monthly report, revealing significant developments in the country's telecommunications sector for December 2025. India's wireless (mobile) subscriber base experienced notable expansion during this period, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel emerging as the primary beneficiaries of this growth trend.
Uneven Subscriber Movement Across Telecom Operators
While the overall subscriber base grew, the movement remained uneven across different telecom operators. Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) continued to report net losses, creating a contrasting picture within the industry.
According to TRAI's comprehensive monthly data, Bharti Airtel demonstrated strong performance by adding 5.42 million wireless subscribers in December 2025. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio added approximately 2.96 million wireless subscribers during the same month. The gains for both telecom giants were largely distributed across multiple licensed service areas, indicating widespread growth.
In stark contrast, Vodafone Idea recorded a net loss of around 9.4 lakh wireless subscribers in December 2025. The state-owned BSNL also reported a decline of about 2.06 lakh wireless subscribers, continuing its challenging trajectory in the competitive telecom market.
Broadband Segment Crosses One Billion Mark
The TRAI report highlights significant developments in the broadband segment, where total subscribers crossed the monumental one-billion mark, reaching 1,007.35 million at the end of December 2025. This milestone reflects the accelerating digital adoption across India.
In the fixed wireless access (FWA) category, 5G FWA subscribers grew by 5.59% month over month, indicating rapid adoption of next-generation connectivity solutions.
Detailed Breakdown of Broadband Net Additions
Here's the comprehensive breakdown of total broadband net additions in December 2025:
FWA Additions in December 2025:
- Airtel 5G FWA: 3,05,933
- Jio 5G FWA: 2,75,746
- Jio UBR FWA: 3,92,143
- Total Jio FWA: 6,67,889
Total Broadband Additions (FWA + Wired):
- Jio: 6,67,889 + 2,05,033 = 8,72,922
- Airtel: 3,05,933 + 1,89,628 = 4,95,561
Driven by the rapid nationwide adoption of AirFiber and fixed wireless services, Jio recorded over 8.7 lakh broadband additions across FWA and wired FTTH, compared to about 4.9 lakh for Airtel. This performance highlights Jio's dominance in the broadband space.
Jio's Market Leadership in Broadband Segment
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited added approximately twice as many broadband users as Bharti Airtel Limited in a single month, driven primarily by strong AirFiber and FWA adoption. Jio has captured an impressive 79% market share over the last six months, adding more than four times the subscribers of the nearest competitor.
Alongside this remarkable achievement, Jio remains the country's largest wired broadband provider, with 13.8 million customers, and continues to post higher monthly additions than its industry peers.
Modest Growth in Wireline Segment
The wireline segment also posted modest growth during December 2025. Wireline subscribers increased from 47.05 million in November to 47.37 million in December 2025, marking a monthly growth rate of 0.68%. This gradual expansion indicates sustained interest in traditional wired connectivity solutions alongside the rapid wireless growth.
The TRAI report provides comprehensive insights into India's evolving telecommunications landscape, highlighting the competitive dynamics between major players and the shifting preferences of Indian consumers toward advanced connectivity solutions.
