Which is India’s No.1 Mobile Network? Jio or Airtel? TRAI Reveals as BSNL & Vi Subscribers Continue to Decline

India's total number of telephone subscribers rose to 1,207.08 million (1.21 billion) in May 2025, marking a monthly growth rate of 0.27%, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The country's overall tele-density, which reflects the number of telephone connections per 100 people, reached 85.36%.

One of the key contributors to this growth continues to be the broadband services segment, which registered a notable 3.37% monthly increase, taking the total number of broadband subscribers to 974.87 million as of the end of May. This surge is largely being driven by mobile broadband users, especially in urban areas, and the increasing adoption of high-speed data services.

Jio Vs Airtel Vs Vodafone Idea Vs BSNL: Which is No.1 Network?

Reliance Jio Strengthens Market Leadership

Reliance Jio Infocomm remained the clear market leader in the broadband segment. The company added 2.7 million new subscribers in May 2025, up from 2.64 million additions in April. With a total subscriber base reaching 494.47 million, Jio now commands an impressive 50.72% share of India's broadband market.

Airtel Retains Second Spot with Steady Gains

Bharti Airtel Ltd continued to hold the second position in the broadband segment. The company added 276,000 new subscribers in May, improving on the 170,000 users gained in April. Airtel's total broadband subscriber count reached 302.15 million, giving it a 30.99% market share.

Vodafone Idea and BSNL Continue to Lose Subscribers

While Reliance Jio and Airtel expanded their user bases, other players continued to face subscriber losses. Vodafone Idea Ltd saw a decline of 274,000 users in May. However, this was an improvement over the 648,000 users it lost in April, reflecting some signs of stabilisation despite its ongoing financial and operational challenges. Vodafone Idea's broadband subscriber base stood at 126.68 million at the end of May.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) also saw a subscriber decline, losing 135,000 users in May, slightly better than the 155,000 it lost in April. BSNL's broadband subscriber base was 34.32 million as of 31 May 2025.

Wireless and Wireline Segment Overview

India's wireless subscriber base, which includes mobile and 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) users, reached 1,168.42 million in May, showing a 0.17% monthly growth. Significantly, 93.03% of these wireless users were recorded as active during the month, indicating a high level of user engagement.

In the wireline broadband segment, the subscriber base rose to 38.66 million, with urban areas accounting for nearly 90% of this total. The segment has been gradually expanding due to increased demand for stable internet connectivity for remote work, education, and digital services.

Mobile Number Portability and M2M Growth

The popularity of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) remains strong. In May alone, 14.03 million MNP requests were processed, reflecting a competitive market where users continue to switch operators in search of better services.

Meanwhile, the machine-to-machine (M2M) cellular connections segment is experiencing rapid growth. As of May, total M2M connections stood at 73.91 million. Bharti Airtel is leading this space with a 54.31% market share, leveraging its enterprise and IoT (Internet of Things) services to dominate this emerging sector.