Reliance Jio Adds 10 Times More Mobile Users Than Airtel In September: TRAI Data

Reliance Jio strengthened its position in India’s telecom market by adding nearly 10 times more regular mobile subscribers than Bharti Airtel in September 2026, according to an analysis of data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Jio added 1.9 million regular mobile users during the month, while Airtel gained just 200,000. The figures exclude machine-to-machine (M2M) connections.

India’s regular mobile subscriber base grew by 2.2 million to 1.15 billion in September, with Jio contributing the largest share of new additions. By the end of the month, Jio’s subscriber base reached 511.1 million, compared with Airtel’s 494.2 million, allowing Jio to maintain its lead.

September proved challenging for Airtel, which recorded its slowest subscriber growth in recent months. Analysts attributed the slowdown partly to the company’s decision to discontinue its Rs 299 low-cost prepaid plan in August. The move may have affected its ability to retain customers who rely on affordable recharge options.

TRAI data showed that Airtel added 2.69 million wireless connections in September. However, regular mobile subscribers accounted for only 200,000 of those additions. Analysts linked much of the difference to M2M connections, which allow machines and devices to exchange information.

Jio further strengthened its position in the active subscriber segment. The country’s active mobile user base grew by 600,000 during September, while Jio alone added 1.3 million active subscribers.

In contrast, Airtel lost 200,000 active users, while Vodafone Idea’s active subscriber base declined by 300,000. Jio remained the only major private telecom operator to record growth in this segment.

The September figures highlight Jio’s lead in both regular and active mobile subscriber additions, while Airtel faces the challenge of reviving its growth.

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