India's total internet subscriber base climbed to 1.114 billion at the end of June 2026, up from 1.093 billion in the preceding quarter — a quarterly growth of 1.96 per cent, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The expansion was driven by continued broadband and wireless internet adoption across the country, underscoring the sustained digital uptake that has defined the sector over the past several years.

Wireless Leads, Broadband Accelerates

Of the 1.114 billion total internet subscribers, 1,066.43 million were wireless internet users, while 47.73 million opted for wired connections. Broadband users accounted for the overwhelming majority at 1,087.50 million, growing 2.03 per cent from 1,065.88 million in the March quarter. Narrowband subscribers, in contrast, slipped marginally by 0.89 per cent to 26.67 million, reflecting an accelerating shift toward higher-speed connectivity.

The total wireless subscriber base — encompassing mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) users — rose by 17.92 million to 1,300.25 million. Mobile subscribers alone grew by 16.66 million to reach 1,282.38 million. Wireless tele-density improved to 90.96 per cent from 89.88 per cent in the previous quarter.

Overall Telephone Base and Tele-Density

The country's overall telephone subscriber base expanded 1.31 per cent on a quarterly basis to 1,348.08 million at the end of June 2026, up from 1,330.58 million in March 2026. Tele-density — the number of telephone connections per 100 persons — improved to 94.31 per cent from 93.26 per cent, indicating that subscriber additions are outpacing population growth, at least on aggregate metrics.

ARPU Rises, Data Costs Keep Falling

Telecom operators showed continued improvement in monetisation. The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services rose 1.19 per cent sequentially to ₹187.12, and grew 3.11 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Prepaid subscribers contributed a higher monthly ARPU of ₹200.72, compared with ₹114.26 for postpaid users — a differential that reflects India's predominantly prepaid market structure.

Notably, the average revenue realisation per GB of wireless data declined 5.07 per cent to ₹7.13, continuing a multi-year trend of falling data costs that has been a key catalyst for mass internet adoption in India. This compression in per-GB pricing is a double-edged signal: it boosts consumption but puts sustained pressure on operator margins even as headline ARPU inches upward.

Data Traffic Surges as Usage Deepens

Data consumption posted robust momentum during the quarter. The number of wireless data subscribers increased to 1,045.55 million from 1,026.75 million. Total mobile data traffic jumped 8.3 per cent to 84,424 petabytes, while average monthly data usage per subscriber climbed to 28.39 GB from 26.70 GB in the preceding quarter. This marks one of the highest per-subscriber consumption figures the sector has recorded, driven partly by video streaming and the expanding 5G footprint.

Sector Revenue Growth Stays in Double Digits

TRAI's report also captured the sector's financial health. Gross Revenue (GR) for the June 2026 quarter stood at ₹1.07 lakh crore, while Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) rose to ₹88,796 crore. On a year-on-year basis, GR grew 10.5 per cent, Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) expanded 9.52 per cent, and AGR increased 9.19 per cent — signalling that the sector's revenue trajectory remains firmly positive despite the ongoing fall in per-unit data pricing.

With broadband penetration deepening and wireless ARPU on a gradual upward curve, the sector's structural indicators suggest that India's telecom growth story is shifting from subscriber addition to value extraction — a transition that will determine operator profitability in the 5G era ahead.