Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data as on 31^st January, 2025

 

Particulars	Wireless	Wireline	Total (Wireless+ Wireline)
Broadband Subscribers (Million)	904.02*	41.15	945.16
Urban Telephone Subscribers (Million)	631.60*	32.24$	663.83
Net Addition in January, 2025 (Million)	5.17	-4.06	1.11
Monthly Growth Rate	0.82%	-11.18%	0.17%
Rural Telephone Subscribers (Million)	525.41*	2.79$	528.20
Net Addition in January, 2025 (Million)	1.18	-0.18	0.99
Monthly Growth Rate	0.23%	-6.21%	0.19%
Total Telephone Subscribers (Million)	1157.00*	35.03$	1192.03
Net Addition in January, 2025 (Million)	6.35	-4.24	2.10
Monthly Growth Rate	0.55%	-10.80%$	0.18%
Overall Tele-density@(%)	82.06%	2.48%	84.54%
Urban Tele-density@(%)	125.02%	6.38%	131.40%
Rural Tele-density@(%)	58.07%	0.31%	58.38%
Share of Urban Subscribers	54.59%	92.03%	55.69%
Share of Rural Subscribers	45.41%	7.97%	44.31%

5. In the month of January 2025, 14.14 million subscribers submitted their requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP). With this, the cumulative MNP requests increased from 1079.19 million at the end of December-24 to 1093.33 million at the end of January-25, since implementation of MNP.

5. Number of active wireless (Mobile) subscribers (on the date of peak VLR^#) in January 2025 was 1065.01 million.

 

Note:

1. ^*   Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also. 
2. $ Decrease in wireline Telephone subscription is due to accounting of 5G FWA Telephone subscription under wireless w.e.f Januray’2025, earlier being erroneously reported under wireline. 
3. @ Based on the projection of population from the ‘Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’.   
4. # VLR is acronym of Visitor Location Register. The dates of peak VLR for various TSPs are different in different service areas.
5. The Urban/Rural subscribers, net addition & monthly growth have been calculated considering the revised Subscribers reported by BSNL for the month of December 2024.
6. Information in this Press Release is based on the data provided by the Service Providers.

1. Broadband Subscribers

 

• As per the information received from 1180 operators in January 2025, in comparison to 1192 operators in December 2024, the total Broadband Subscribers increased from 944.96 million at the end of December-24 to 945.16 million at the end of January-25 with a monthly growth rate of 0.04%. Segment-wise broadband subscribers and their monthly growth rates are as below: -

Segment–wise Broadband Subscribers and Monthly Growth Rate in the month of January, 2025

Segment	Subscription	Subscribers (in million)		% Change
		Dec-24	Jan-25
Wired subscribers	Fixed (wired) Broadband (DSL, FTTx, Ethernet/LAN, Cable Modem, ILL)	41.19	41.15	-0.09%*
Wireless Subscribers	Fixed Wireless Broadband (FWA-5G, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Radio, Satellite)	5.21	4.98	-4.39%
	Mobile Broadband (Handset/Dongle based)	898.57	899.04	0.05%
Total Broadband Subscribers		944.96	945.16*	0.04%

 

  * This report is prepared considering the last reported (Nov'2024) internet subscription data submitted by M/s Reliance Jio Infocom Ltd. and M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd., as they did not submit the requisite data in the prescribed format for Dec-2024 & Jan-2025.

 

As on 31^st January 2025, top five Broadband

(Wired + Wireless) Service providers

 

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	476.58*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd.	289.31*
	Vodafone Idea Ltd.	126.41
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.	35.77
	Atria Convergence Technologies Limited	2.28
Market Share of Top Five Broadband (Wired+Wireless)		98.43%

*As per reported data of Nov-24

• The graphical representation of the service provider-wise market share of broadband services is given below: -

Service Provider-wise Market Share of Broadband

(wired + wireless) Services as on 31^st January, 2025

 

As on 31^st January, 2025, Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service providers

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	11.48*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd	8.55*
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd	4.26
	Atria Convergence Technologies Limited	2.28
	Kerala Vision Broadband Ltd	1.28
Market Share of Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service Providers		67.67%

*As per reported data of Nov-24

 

As on 31^st January, 2025, top five Wireless (Fixed wireless & mobile) Broadband Service providers

S.N.	Name of the Service Provider	Subscriber base (In million)
	Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd	465.10*
	Bharti Airtel Ltd	280.76*
	Vodafone Idea Ltd	126.41
	Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd	31.52
	Intech Online Pvt. Ltd	0.09
Market Share of Top Five Wireless Broadband Service Providers		99.98%

^*As per reported data of Nov-24

2. Wireline Subscribers

• Wireline subscribers decreased from 39.27 million on December 24 to 35.03 million on January 25. Hence, the net decrease in the wireline subscriber base was 4.24 million with a monthly rate of decline -10.80%. This decrease is due to the accounting of 5G FWA subscribers’ numbers earlier being erroneously reported under the wireline category but now being accounted for under the wireless category w.e.f January 2025.
• The Overall wireline Tele-density in India decreased from 2.79% at the end of December 24 to 2.48% at the end of January 25. Urban and Rural Wireline Tele-density were 6.38% and 0.31%, respectively, during the same period.  The share of urban and rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers was 92.03% and 7.97% respectively at the end of January 2025.
• BSNL, MTNL, and APSFL, the three PSUs access service providers, held 24.77% of the wireline market share as on 31^st January 2025. Detailed statistics of the Wireline subscriber base are available at Annexure-I.

 

Access Service Provider-wise Market Share of wireline Subscribers

as on 31^st January, 2025

 

Access Service Provider-wise Net Addition/Decline in wireline Subscribers during the month of January, 2025

 

 

3. Wireless (Mobile + 5G FWA) Subscribers

 

• Total wireless subscribers increased from 1,150.66 million (Mobile) on December-24 to 1,157 million (mobile + 5G FWA) on January-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.55%. 5G FWA subscribers’ number, earlier being reported under the wireline category, has now been included in the wireless category w.e.f January 2025. Hence, due to the inclusion of 5G FWA subscriber numbers, there is an increase in the monthly growth rate. Total Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 627.08 million on December 24 to 631.60 million on January 25, while the subscription in rural areas increased from 523.28 million to 525.41 million during the same period. The monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless subscriptions was 0.82% and 0.23%, respectively.

         

•  The Wireless Tele-density in India increased from 81.67% at the end of Dec-24 to 82.06% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density increased from 124.31% at the end of Dec-24 to 125.02% at the end of Jan-25 and the Rural Tele-density increased from 57.89% to 58.07% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless subscribers in the total number of wireless subscribers was 54.59% and 45.41%, respectively, at the end of January 25.
• The details of Wireless (mobile) and Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers are detailed below: -

 

(A) Wireless (Mobile) subscriber

 

• Total wireless (Mobile) subscribers increased from 1,150.66 million at the end of December-24 to 1,151.29 million at the end of January-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.05%. Wireless (Mobile) subscription in urban areas decreased from 627.08 million at the end of Dec-24 to 626.08 million at the end of Jan-25, however wireless (Mobile) subscription in rural areas increased from 523.28 million to 525.20 million during the same period. Monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscription was -0.06% and 0.19% respectively.

 

        

• The Wireless (Mobile) Tele-density in India decreased from 81.67% at the end of Dec-24 to 81.65% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density decreased from 124.31% at the end of Dec-24 to 123.92% at the end of Jan-25, however Rural Tele-density increased from 57.89% to 58.05% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscribers in total number of wireless (Mobile) subscribers was 54.38% and 45.62% respectively at the end of January-25. Detailed statistics of wireless (Mobile) subscriber base is available at Annexure-II

•      As on 31^st January 2025, the private access service providers held 91.96% market share of the wireless (Mobile) subscribers, whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 8.04%.

• The graphical representation of access service provider-wise market share and net additions in wireless (Mobile) subscriber base are given below: -

 

Access Service Provider-wise Market Shares in term of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers as on 31^st January, 2025

 

 

 

Net Addition/ Decline in Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers of Access Service Providers in the month of January 2025

 

Growth in Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers

Major Access Service Provider-wise Monthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless Subscribers in the month of January, 2025

 

           

Service Area-wise Monthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers in the month of January 2025

 

 

• Except Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, U.P.(W), Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, J & K and Kolkata, all other service areas have showed growth in their wireless (Mobile) subscribers during the month of January-25.

 

(B) Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers

 

• Total wireless (5G FWA) subscribers were 5.72 million at the end of January 25, with subscriptions in urban and rural areas of 5.513 million and 0.202 million, respectively.
• The share of urban and rural wireless (5G FWA) subscribers in the total number of wireless (5G FWA) subscribers was 96.46% and 3.54%, respectively at the end of January 25. Detailed statistics of the wireless (5G FWA) subscriber base is available at Annexure-V

4. M2M cellular mobile connections

   Number of M2M cellular mobile connections increased from 59.09 million at the end of December-24 to 63.09 million at the end of January-25.

 

 

     Bharti Airtel Limited has the highest number of M2M cellular mobile connections 33.04 million with a market share of 52.37% followed by Vodafone idea Limited, Reliance Jio Infocom Limited and BSNL with market share of 25.07%, 17.40% and 5.16% respectively.

 

5.  Total Telephone Subscribers

 

• The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,189.92 million at the end of Dec-24 to 1,192.03 million at the end of Jan-25, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.18%. Urban telephone subscription increased from 663.37 million at the end of Dec-24 to 663.83 million at the end of Jan-25 and the rural subscription also increased from 526.56 million to 528.20 million during the same period. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscription were 0.17% and   0.19% respectively during the month of January-25.  

• The overall Tele-density in India increased from 84.45% at the end of Dec-24 to 84.54% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Tele-density decreased from 131.50% at the end of Dec-24 to 131.40% at the end of Jan-25 however Rural Tele-density increased from 58.22% to 58.38% during the same period. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total number of telephone subscribers at the end of January-25 were 55.69% and 44.31% respectively.

 

Overall Tele-density (LSA Wise) – As on 31^st January, 2025

 

 

• As may be seen in the above chart, eight LSA have less tele-density than the all-India average tele-density at the end of January-25. Delhi service area has maximum tele-density of 274.17% and the Bihar service area has minimum tele-density of 56.63% at the end of January-25.

Notes: -

1. Population data/projections are available state wise only.
2. Tele-density figures are derived from the telephone subscriber data provided by the access service providers and the projection of population from the “Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036.
3. Telephone subscriber data for Delhi, includes, apart from the data for the State of Delhi, wireless subscriber data for the areas served by the local exchanges of Ghaziabad & Noida (in Uttar Pradesh) and Gurgaon & Faridabad (in Haryana).
4. Data/information for West Bengal includes Kolkata, Maharashtra includes Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh includes UPE & UPW service area(s).
5. Data/information for Andhra Pradesh includes Telengana, Madhya Pradesh includes Chhatishgarh, Bihar includes Jharkhand, Maharashtra includes Goa, Uttar Pradesh includes Uttarakhand, West Bengal includes Sikkim and North-East includes Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland & Tripura States.

 

6. Category-wise Growth in subscriber base

 

Circle Category-wise Net Additions in Telephone Subscribers in the month January, 2025

          

Circle Category	Net additions in the month of January, 2025		Telephone Subscriber base as on 31st January, 2025
	Wireline segment	Wireless* segment	Wireline segment	Wireless* segment
Circle A	-1540337	1906719	13539282	385483296
Circle B	-1654918	2568517	9512781	468875300
Circle C	-654284	1250544	2744860	189962742
Metro	-391829	619569	9229730	112680644
All India	-4241368	6345349	35026653	1157001982

          *Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also

 

Circle Category-wise monthly and yearly Growth Rates in Telephone Subscribers in the month of January, 2025

 

 

 

*Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also

 

Note:  Circle Category-Metro includes Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Data for Chennai has been included in Circle Category-A, as part of TamilNadu.

 

• As can be seen in the above tables, in the wireless segment, during the month of January 2025, on a monthly basis, all circles have registered a growth rate in their subscriber base. On a yearly basis, except Circle ‘C’, all other circles have registered a decline in their subscriber base.
•  In the Wireline segment, during the month of January 2025, on a monthly basis, all circles have registered a decline in their subscriber base while on a yearly basis, all circles have registered growth in their subscribers.

 

 

 

 

• Intra-service area Mobile number portability (MNP) was implemented first in Haryana service area w.e.f. 25.11.2010 and in the rest of the country w.e.f. 20.01.2011. Inter-Service Area MNP has been implemented in the country w.e.f. 03.07.2015. Now, the wireless telephone subscribers can retain their mobile numbers when they relocate from one service area to another.

• During the month of January-25, a total of 14.14 million requests were received for MNP.  Out of total 14.14 million, new requests received from Zone-I & Zone-II were 8.16 million and 5.98 million respectively. The cumulative MNP requests increased from 1079.19 million at the end of December-24 to 1093.33 million at the end of January-25, since the implementation of MNP. 
• In MNP Zone-I (Northern and Western India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Uttar Pradesh-East (about 108.37 million) followed by Maharashtra (about 89.08 million) service area.
• In MNP Zone-II (Southern and Eastern India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Madhya Pradesh (about 86.03 million) followed by Karnataka (about 72.50 million).

Service Area Wise MNP Status
Zone-I			Zone–II
Service Area	Number of Porting Requests (in Million)		Service Area	Number of Porting Requests (in Million)
	Dec-24	Jan-25		Dec-24	Jan-25
Delhi	51.42	52.09	Andhra Pradesh	70.86	71.50
Gujarat	73.42	74.40	Assam	7.89	7.99
Haryana	33.99	34.41	Bihar	61.90	62.94
Himachal Pradesh	4.55	4.60	Karnataka	71.94	72.50
Jammu & Kashmir	3.03	3.11	Kerala	25.65	25.90
Maharashtra	87.99	89.08	Kolkata	19.63	19.83
Mumbai	35.43	35.73	Madhya Pradesh	84.71	86.03
Punjab	35.34	35.69	North East	2.48	2.50
Rajasthan	72.50	73.24	Odisha	18.87	19.07
U.P.(East)	106.35	108.37	Tamil Nadu	67.56	68.14
U.P.(West)	79.94	81.41	West Bengal	63.74	64.82
Total	583.96	592.12	Total	495.23	501.21
Total (Zone-I + Zone-II)				1,079.19	1,093.33
Net Addition (January, 2025)		14.14 million

 

 

Contact details in         case of any clarification: -

Shri Vijay Kumar, Advisor (F&EA), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India                                                                  World Trade Centre, Tower-F, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi – 110029 Ph: 011-20907773                                                        (Atul Kumar Chaudhary) E-mail: advfea1@trai.gov.in                                                  Secretary, TRAI

 

Annexure IV

VLR Subscribers in the Wireless Segment

 

Home Location Register (HLR) is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is authorized to use the GSM core network. The HLRs store details of every SIM card issued by the service provider. Each SIM has a unique identifier called an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which is the primary key to each HLR record. The HLR data is stored for as long as a subscriber remains with the service provider. HLR also manages the mobility of subscribers by means of updating their position in administrative areas. It sends the subscriber data to a Visitor Location Register (VLR).

Subscriber numbers reported by the service providers is the difference between the numbers of IMSI registered in service provider’s HLR and sum of other figures as given below: -

 

1	Total IMSI's in HLR (A)
2	Less: (B = a + b + c + d + e)
a.	Test/Service Cards
b.	Employees
c.	Stock in hand/in Distribution Channels (Active Card)
d.	Subscriber Retention period expired
e.	Service suspended pending disconnection
3	Subscribers Base (A-B)

Visitor Location Register (VLR) is a temporary database of the subscribers who have roamed into the particular area, which it serves. Each base station in the network is served by exactly one VLR; hence a subscriber cannot be present in more than one VLR at a time.

If subscriber is in active stage i.e. he is able to send/receive calls/SMSs he is available both in HLR and VLR. However, it may be possible that the subscriber is registered in HLR but not in VLR due to the reason that he is either switched-off or moved out of coverage area, not reachable etc. In such circumstances he will be available in HLR but not in VLR. This causes difference between subscriber number reported by the service providers based on HLR and numbers available in VLR.

The VLR subscriber data calculated here is based on active subscribers in VLR on the date of Peak subscriber number in VLR of the particular month for which the data is being collected. This data is to be taken from the switches having the purge time of not more than 72 hours.

**********

Samrat

(Release ID: 2123143) Visitor Counter : 855