India has achieved a monumental digital milestone, with its broadband subscriber base officially crossing the 100 crore threshold, as per the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This landmark figure underscores a period of explosive growth in the nation's connectivity landscape over the past decade.
A Decade of Digital Leap
The numbers reveal an extraordinary journey. From a base of 131.49 million (13.15 crore) subscribers in November 2015, the count has swelled to a staggering 1 billion (100.37 crore) by the end of November 2025. This represents a more than six-fold increase, a transformation largely attributed to concerted government and private sector efforts in enhancing digital infrastructure.
In its Year-End Review, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) highlighted 2025 as a pivotal year for progress in connectivity and technological self-reliance. A key driver has been the National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0, launched on January 17, 2025, which the DoT credits for propelling India into a new phase of digital transformation.
Explosion in Data Consumption and Speeds
The surge in user numbers is mirrored by a phenomenal rise in data usage and network performance. The average monthly data consumption per wireless subscriber has witnessed an astronomical 399-time increase, climbing from a mere 61.66 MB in March 2014 to 24.01 GB in 2025. The DoT proudly notes this is now "one of the highest in the world."
This data hunger is supported by vastly improved speeds. The median mobile broadband download speed jumped from 10.71 Mbps in 2019 to an impressive 131.47 Mbps in October 2025. Fixed broadband speeds also saw a sharp rise, from 29.25 Mbps in 2019 to 60.34 Mbps in 2025, according to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index data cited by the DoT.
Bridging the Divide and Reducing Costs
The infrastructure backbone has been strengthened significantly. The Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network expanded from 19.35 lakh route km in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route km by September 2025. Overall telephone connections grew from 933 million in March 2014 to 1228.94 million in September 2025.
Critically, the digital divide between urban and rural India is narrowing. Rural telephone connections surged by 42.9%, from 377.78 million to 539.83 million in the same period—a growth rate nearly double that of urban areas.
Adding to the accessibility is a dramatic reduction in data costs. The average mobile data cost per GB fell from $0.16 in 2024 to just $0.10 in 2025, making high-speed internet more affordable for millions.
In a related development, the DoT also released the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 this week. This new framework aims to ensure the country's radio-frequency spectrum management is responsive, high-capacity, and harmonized with global standards, setting the stage for future technological advancements like 5G and beyond.
This comprehensive data paints a picture of a nation rapidly transforming into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, with connectivity serving as its fundamental pillar.
