India’s internet base crosses 1.11 billion as data use jumps 8.3 per cent

MUMBAI: India’s data appetite is growing faster than ever, and the latest telecom figures show just how much the country is staying connected. Internet subscribers rose to 1,114.17 million in the April to June 2026 quarter, while total mobile data consumption climbed 8.30 per cent, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) latest performance indicator report.

Released on 12 October, the report tracks the performance of India’s telecom, cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH) and radio broadcasting sectors for the quarter ended 30 June 2026. The internet subscriber base grew 1.96 per cent from 1,092.79 million at the end of March, with 47.73 million wired internet subscribers and 1,066.43 million wireless subscribers.

Broadband continued to dominate, with its subscriber base increasing 2.03 per cent to 1,087.50 million. Narrowband subscriptions, in contrast, fell 0.89 per cent to 26.67 million.

Indians are not just connecting in greater numbers; they are also consuming more data. Wireless mobile data usage increased from 77,953 petabytes (PB) in the March quarter to 84,424 PB in the June quarter. Average monthly consumption per wireless data subscriber rose 6.32 per cent, from 26.70 GB to 28.39 GB.

The cost of consuming that data edged lower. Average revenue realisation per GB declined 5.07 per cent, from Rs 7.51 to Rs 7.13 during the quarter.

Wireless service revenue per user, however, moved in the opposite direction. Monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) increased 1.19 per cent to Rs 187.12 from Rs 184.91 in the previous quarter, and was up 3.11 per cent year on year. Pre-paid users recorded a monthly ARPU of Rs 200.72, compared with Rs 114.26 for post-paid subscribers.

Average monthly minutes of usage per wireless subscriber slipped 2.65 per cent to 933 minutes. Pre-paid subscribers averaged 1,055 minutes, while post-paid users recorded 279 minutes.

The sector’s financial performance also strengthened. Gross revenue reached Rs 1,06,797 crore, applicable gross revenue stood at Rs 1,01,036 crore, and adjusted gross revenue (AGR) came in at Rs 88,796 crore. Compared with the previous quarter, these figures rose 1.60 per cent, 2.43 per cent and 2.40 per cent, respectively. Year on year, the corresponding growth rates were 10.50 per cent, 9.52 per cent and 9.19 per cent.

Access services accounted for 83.85 per cent of the sector’s total AGR, underlining the continuing weight of connectivity services in telecom revenues.

India’s total telephone subscriber base grew to 1,348.08 million at the end of June, up 1.31 per cent from 1,330.58 million in March. The year-on-year growth rate was 10.65 per cent, while overall tele-density increased from 93.26 per cent to 94.31 per cent.

Wireless connections, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA), added a net 17.92 million subscribers to reach 1,300.25 million, a quarterly increase of 1.40 per cent. Mobile subscriptions alone rose by 16.66 million to 1,282.38 million, up 1.32 per cent.

The urban subscriber base increased from 778.79 million to 792.06 million, taking urban tele-density to 153.43 per cent from 151.47 per cent. Rural telephone subscriptions rose from 551.79 million to 556.01 million, with rural tele-density improving from 60.46 per cent to 60.89 per cent.

However, the rural share of total telephone subscriptions dipped from 41.47 per cent in March to 41.24 per cent in June. Wireline connections also continued to lose ground quarter on quarter, declining 0.88 per cent to 47.82 million, although they were up 0.71 per cent year on year.

Private operators accounted for 92.50 per cent of total telephone subscriptions, while public sector operators held 7.50 per cent.

Beyond telecom, the report points to a softer quarter for pay DTH television and private FM radio advertising.

The four pay DTH operators in India had 48.56 million active subscribers at the end of June, down from 49.09 million in March. This figure excludes subscribers to Prasar Bharati’s free DD Free Dish service.

Of the 915 private satellite TV channels permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 906 were available for downlinking in India. Broadcasters reported 342 pay channels, comprising 238 standard-definition and 104 high-definition channels. The remaining 566 channels were classified as free-to-air.

Private FM radio advertising revenue declined to Rs 376.16 crore in the June quarter from Rs 414.03 crore in the previous quarter. The latest revenue figure covered 391 private FM channels, compared with 390 in the March quarter.

The number of operational private FM radio channels stood at 386 across 121 cities at the end of June, operated by 30 companies. During the quarter, permissions for five channels were surrendered with effect from 14 June, while HT Media launched a new channel in Moradabad from 19 April. India also had 578 operational community radio stations at the end of June.

The numbers paint a mixed picture across the wider communications landscape: internet adoption, mobile data use and telecom revenues are rising, even as wireline connections, pay DTH subscriptions and FM advertising revenue face quarterly declines. For India’s telecom industry, the next phase will be about turning a growing appetite for connectivity into sustained revenue growth while keeping pace with changing consumer habits.