TRAI Report: India Reaches 1.09 Billion Internet Users
- What: 1.09B internet subscribers reached
- Revenue: ₹3.35 lakh crore telecom AGR
- Usage: 25.51 GB monthly data per user
- Tele-density: 93.26% national, 60.46% rural
India's internet subscriber base crossed 1.09 billion by March 2026, marking a 12.76% annual expansion driven almost entirely by broadband connectivity. The latest annual performance indicators published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India place total telephone subscriptions at 1.33 billion. Nationwide tele-density climbed to 93.26%, sustained by massive mobile data adoption across commercial networks.
Average monthly wireless data consumption reached 25.51 GB per subscriber, expanding total yearly data traffic by nearly 25% to 285,376 petabytes. Even as per-gigabyte data realization fell over 10% to ₹8.02, operators generated ₹2.40 lakh crore directly from wireless data. Overall industry Adjusted Gross Revenue advanced 10.44% to ₹3.35 lakh crore, translating into ₹26,763 crore in government license fees.
Wireline connections registered a sharp resurgence, climbing 30.25% to 48.25 million as home fiber rollouts expanded across major cities. However, geographic disparity remains persistent. Urban tele-density reached 151.47%, while rural coverage stood at 60.46%, causing rural India's overall share of total subscriptions to slide below 42%.
The regulatory filing also underlines headwinds facing legacy broadcast distributors. Net active pay-DTH subscribers dropped from 56.92 million to 49.05 million over the fiscal year, while private FM radio advertising revenue shrank by 11% to ₹1,616 crore as audiences shifted toward digital streaming platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many internet subscribers does India have according to TRAI's FY 2025-26 report?
India recorded 1,092.79 million internet subscribers as of March 31, 2026, with broadband accounts making up 1,065.88 million of that total.
What was the telecom sector's Adjusted Gross Revenue in FY 2025-26?
Telecom sector Adjusted Gross Revenue rose 10.44% year-on-year to ₹3,34,659 crore, generating ₹26,763 crore in license fees.
How much wireless data does an average Indian mobile subscriber use per month?
Average monthly wireless data consumption reached 25.51 GB per user in FY 2025-26, up 18.49% from 21.53 GB in the prior fiscal year.
What is the current rural-urban tele-density gap in India?
Urban tele-density stood at 151.47% as of March 2026, compared to 60.46% in rural areas, with rural subscribers representing 41.47% of total connections.
Source
TRAI Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2025-26, Ministry of Communications (Release ID: 2319321) · 2026-10-05
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