Data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for December 2025 reveals a clear trend in the Indian telecom market: Airtel and Jio are rapidly gaining new subscribers, while Vodafone Idea (Vi) and BSNL are witnessing customer churn. The primary reason appears to be the expansion of 5G mobile networks. Vi and BSNL have lagged behind in the 5G rollout, making it difficult for them to retain existing customers or attract new ones.
TRAI December 2025 Data
According to TRAI’s December 2025 report, Airtel and Jio collectively added 8,388,902 new wireless subscribers in just one month. During the same period, Vi and BSNL experienced a decline in their subscriber base.
- Airtel added 5,428,314 new subscribers, bringing its total subscriber base to 463,384,389.
- Jio also added 5,428,314 new subscribers, taking its total to 489,050,236.
In contrast, Vi lost around 940,000 subscribers, while BSNL saw a decline of over 200,000 subscribers. Vi now has a total of 198.7 million subscribers, and BSNL has 92.7 million.
Why Are Customers Leaving Vi and BSNL?
The key reason appears to be 5G connectivity. While Vi started rolling out 5G services last year, its expansion has been slow. BSNL, on the other hand, has yet to launch 5G commercially. Meanwhile, the sales of 5G-enabled smartphones have surged across the country, reducing the demand for 4G devices. Users purchasing 5G devices naturally prefer operators that offer 5G services. BSNL, still expanding its 4G coverage, has not been able to meet this growing demand.
India’s Overall Mobile Subscriber Base Grows
Despite the subscriber shifts among operators, TRAI reported a net increase of 7.238 million wireless subscribers in December 2025. The total number of mobile connections in India has now surpassed 1.24 billion, reflecting continued growth in the country’s telecom sector.
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