New Delhi: Reliance Jio added nearly 2.40 million wireless mobile subscribers in August 2026, recording the highest subscriber addition among India’s major telecom operators, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday.
Bharti Airtel followed with around 2.11 million new mobile subscribers during the month. Vodafone Idea (Vi) added approximately 506,000 subscribers, while state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) gained nearly 493,000 users.
The latest figures show continued growth in India’s wireless subscriber base, with private telecom operators maintaining their dominant position in the mobile market.
Jio leads subscriber additions in August
Reliance Jio’s wireless mobile subscriber base increased from 506.03 million at the end of July to 508.43 million at the end of August.
The increase of approximately 2.40 million subscribers gave Jio the largest net addition among the operators covered in the latest TRAI data.
Bharti Airtel’s subscriber base also recorded a significant increase. The company added around 2.11 million users, taking its wireless mobile subscriber base from approximately 489.49 million in July to about 491.60 million at the end of August.
The additions come as India’s telecom sector continues to see strong demand for mobile connectivity and data services. Jio and Airtel have remained the two largest private operators by subscriber base, while Vodafone Idea continues to operate as the country’s third major private telecom company.
Vodafone Idea and BSNL also gain users
Vodafone Idea added approximately 506,000 wireless mobile subscribers during August, taking its subscriber base higher during the month.
BSNL also recorded a net addition of nearly 493,000 wireless mobile users. The state-owned operator’s subscriber gains come amid its continuing efforts to expand and modernise its network.
BSNL has been rolling out 4G services across India as part of a broader effort to strengthen its mobile network and compete more effectively in the telecom market.
Meanwhile, MTNL was the only major operator mentioned in the TRAI data to record a decline. Its subscriber base fell by approximately 5,900 users during August.
India’s total wireless base crosses 1.31 billion
TRAI’s data showed that the overall number of wireless subscribers, including mobile and Fixed Wireless Access connections, rose to 1,312.25 million at the end of August 2026.
This represented a monthly growth rate of 0.46 per cent.
The increase was recorded in both urban and rural areas. Wireless subscriptions in urban regions increased from 753.86 million in July to 759.11 million in August.
Rural wireless subscriptions also increased, rising from 552.40 million in July to 553.14 million in August.
According to TRAI, the monthly growth rate of wireless subscriptions was 0.70 per cent in urban areas and 0.13 per cent in rural areas.
The figures indicate that urban markets continued to account for a larger share of monthly subscriber additions, although rural India also recorded an increase in wireless connections.
Private operators retain dominant market share
Private telecom companies continued to control the overwhelming majority of India’s wireless mobile subscriber market in August.
TRAI said private telecom operators accounted for 92.75 per cent of wireless mobile subscribers at the end of the month. State-owned BSNL and MTNL together accounted for the remaining 7.25 per cent.
The market distribution reflects the substantial scale of India’s private telecom networks, particularly those operated by Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
The continued subscriber additions by Jio and Airtel also underline the competitive strength of the country’s largest private operators.
Airtel records high active subscriber ratio
Apart from its subscriber additions, Airtel continued to record a high proportion of active mobile users.
TRAI said 99.01 per cent of Airtel’s wireless mobile subscriber base was active on the date of the peak Visitor Location Register (VLR) in August.
The VLR figure is used to indicate the number of mobile subscribers who were active on a network during a particular period. A high active-subscriber ratio can provide an indication of the proportion of a telecom operator’s customer base that is regularly using its network.
The figure places Airtel among the operators with a high level of active subscribers, even as the company continues to expand its overall customer base.
Total telephone connections rise to 1.36 billion
TRAI’s August data also showed an increase in the country’s total telephone subscriber base when wireline connections are included.
The total number of telephone subscribers rose to 1,360.70 million at the end of August 2026, compared with the previous month.
This represented monthly growth of 0.47 per cent.
The figures cover both wireless and wireline connections and provide a broader picture of India’s telecommunications market.
Wireless services continue to account for the overwhelming majority of India’s telephone connections, reflecting the country’s shift towards mobile-first communication and data consumption.
Telecom competition remains concentrated
The latest TRAI numbers show that India’s telecom market remains concentrated among a small number of major operators.
Jio recorded the largest monthly addition in August, followed by Airtel, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL also increased their subscriber bases. MTNL, in contrast, recorded a modest decline.
The growth in total wireless subscriptions also indicates that India’s demand for connectivity continues to expand. Urban markets recorded a stronger monthly growth rate than rural areas, although both segments added subscribers.
With mobile data increasingly supporting digital payments, entertainment, online education, e-commerce and other services, subscriber growth remains an important indicator for telecom companies.
The August figures therefore highlight the continuing scale of India’s mobile market, with Jio and Airtel leading monthly subscriber additions and private operators retaining a dominant share of the country’s wireless customer base.