India internet subscribers hit 1.09 billion in Q1 2026, up 6.24% : TRAI
Synopsis
India's internet user base has crossed 1.09 billion as of March 2026, with TRAI data showing a 6.24% quarterly jump. Broadband alone accounts for over a billion subscribers — and with wireless ARPU climbing 7.15% year-on-year, India's telecom sector is growing in both scale and revenue depth.
Key Takeaways
India's total internet subscribers reached 1,092.79 million at the end of March 2026 , up 6.24 per cent from December 2025 , per TRAI data.
Broadband subscribers stood at 1,065.88 million , growing 5.81 per cent quarter-on-quarter; narrowband surged 26.62 per cent .
Wireless ARPU rose to ₹196.04 — up 0.76 per cent quarterly and 7.15 per cent annually.
Overall tele-density improved to 93.26 per cent , with total telephone subscribers at 1,330.58 million .
Licence Fee collections rose to ₹6,936 crore in Q1 CY26, up 9.41 per cent year-on-year.
342 satellite pay TV channels are operational as of March 2026 , out of 908 permitted for downlinking.
India's total internet subscriber base climbed to 1,092.79 million by the end of March 2026, up from 1,028.61 million in December 2025 — a quarter-on-quarter rise of 6.24 per cent, according to a new report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The data marks a significant milestone in India's digital connectivity expansion, with the country now hosting over a billion internet users.
Breakdown of Subscriber Base
Of the total internet subscribers, 46.54 million were wired and 1,046.26 million were wireless. The broadband segment accounted for 1,065.88 million subscribers, while narrowband stood at 26.91 million. Broadband subscriptions grew 5.81 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while narrowband surged at a sharper pace of 26.62 per cent — suggesting continued demand even at lower-speed tiers, particularly in underserved regions.
Telephone and Tele-Density Trends
Total telephone subscribers rose to 1,330.58 million, pushing overall tele-density to 93.26 per cent, up from 91.74 per cent in the previous quarter. Wireline tele-density also edged higher, from 3.33 per cent in December 2025 to 3.38 per cent in March 2026, recording a quarterly growth rate of 1.64 per cent — a modest but consistent uptick in fixed-line infrastructure.
ARPU and Usage Metrics
Monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services rose 0.76 per cent to ₹196.04 in the quarter. On an annual basis, wireless ARPU increased by 7.15 per cent, reflecting sustained tariff adjustments by operators. Overall minutes of usage (MOU) per month grew marginally from 1,012 in the quarter ended December 2025 to 1,017 in Q1 CY26. Prepaid subscribers averaged 1,074 minutes per month, compared to 477 minutes for postpaid users.
Licence Fee and Revenue Growth
The Licence Fee (LF) collected from telecom operators rose from ₹6,733 crore in the quarter ended December 2025 to ₹6,936 crore in Q1 CY26 — a quarterly increase of 3.02 per cent and an annual growth of 9.41 per cent. This signals a healthier revenue environment for the sector, even as competition among major operators remains intense.
Satellite TV Landscape
On the broadcasting front, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has permitted a total of 917 private satellite TV channels for uplinking, downlinking, or both. Of the 908 channels available for downlinking in India, 342 are operational pay TV channels as of March 2026. The data underscores that traditional broadcast remains a significant parallel ecosystem alongside the internet boom.
With India's broadband base now exceeding a billion, the focus is likely to shift toward quality-of-service metrics, rural last-mile connectivity, and the pace of 5G adoption — all areas TRAI is expected to scrutinise in subsequent quarterly reports.
Point of View
But the more telling signal is the 26.62% surge in narrowband subscriptions — suggesting that connectivity demand is outpacing affordable high-speed supply in large parts of the country. ARPU growth of 7.15% annually reflects operator pricing power post-consolidation, but it also raises affordability questions for low-income users. The real policy test ahead is whether TRAI's next report shows quality-of-service improvements alongside subscriber growth, or whether India is simply adding connections without meaningfully upgrading the experience.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many internet subscribers does India have as of March 2026?
India had 1,092.79 million internet subscribers at the end of March 2026, up from 1,028.61 million in December 2025 — a rise of 6.24 per cent in a single quarter, according to TRAI data.
What is India's broadband subscriber count in Q1 2026?
India's broadband subscriber base stood at 1,065.88 million as of March 2026, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter growth of 5.81 per cent. Narrowband subscribers totalled 26.91 million, growing at a faster pace of 26.62 per cent.
What is the wireless ARPU in India for Q1 2026?
The monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services was ₹196.04 in Q1 CY26, up 0.76 per cent from the previous quarter and 7.15 per cent higher than the same period a year earlier.
What is India's overall tele-density as of March 2026?
India's overall tele-density reached 93.26 per cent at the end of March 2026, up from 91.74 per cent in December 2025. Total telephone subscribers stood at 1,330.58 million.
How much licence fee did telecom operators pay in Q1 2026?
Telecom operators paid a Licence Fee of ₹6,936 crore in the quarter ended March 2026, compared to ₹6,733 crore in the previous quarter — a quarterly rise of 3.02 per cent and an annual increase of 9.41 per cent.
