India’s Active Mobile Subscriber Base Sees Strongest Growth In Five Months

India’s telecom sector witnessed a notable rise in active subscribers during October 2025, with the overall base climbing by 5.7 million, according to analyst reports that examined the latest TRAI data.

This marks the strongest monthly growth in five months and reflects sustained momentum in the sector.

In its latest analysis, Jefferies reported that active subscriber additions for calendar year 2025 (CYTD) have reached 34 million — the highest nine-month gain in eight years.

The report noted that rising data usage and expanding 4G and 5G coverage continue to support average revenue per user (ARPU) growth for telecom operators.

Jefferies emphasised that the expanding subscriber base and deeper data penetration point to a robust outlook for the sector, especially as operators prepare for the next phase of tariff rationalisation.

Jio and Airtel Lead Subscriber Additions

Reliance Jio led October’s active subscriber additions with a gain of 3.9 million, taking its total active base to 476 million.

Bharti Airtel followed with an impressive 2.8 million additions — its strongest monthly gain in nine months — pushing its active user count to 392 million.

Vodafone Idea, however, continued to struggle, losing 0.4 million active subscribers during the month.

Analysts noted that the operator’s limited network investments and financial constraints remain major challenges to retaining high-value customers.

Jefferies highlighted that Jio outperformed Airtel in monthly active subscriber additions for the eighth consecutive month, reinforcing its leadership in user acquisition.

Market Share Trends

ICICI Securities, in its research note, detailed the shifts in active subscriber market share in October 2025.

Jio’s share increased by 14 basis points to 43.5%, solidifying its dominant position. Bharti Airtel also expanded its market share by 6 basis points, reaching 35.8%.

In contrast, Vodafone Idea’s market share declined by 12 basis points to 15.6%, signalling ongoing pressure on the operator amid heightened competition.

Analysts expect the strong subscriber momentum to continue as users increasingly upgrade to high-speed networks and adopt data-intensive services.

With ARPU improvements anticipated in the upcoming tariff cycles, telecom operators are likely to see strengthened financial performance.

Growing digital penetration across urban and rural India, combined with the expansion of 5G services, is projected to propel further subscriber additions in the coming months.

The sector’s long-term outlook remains positive, driven by rising mobile data consumption and sustained investments in network infrastructure.

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