Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel added almost equal numbers of subscribers in September 2026, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Jio gained approximately 2.713 million wireless mobile subscribers, marginally ahead of Airtel’s 2.692 million additions. The figures underline the continued expansion of India’s telecom market and the competition between the country’s two largest private operators.
However, the headline numbers conceal an important difference in subscriber growth. According to Financial Express, excluding machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, Jio added approximately 1.86 million subscribers, while Airtel gained around 180,000. Vodafone Idea added subscribers overall but lost approximately 310,000 after M2M connections were excluded. These figures suggest that the type of connection being added matters as much as the headline subscriber total.
Key Takeaways
- Jio leads narrowly: Reliance Jio added approximately 2.713 million wireless mobile subscribers in September, compared with Airtel’s 2.692 million.
- M2M changes the picture: Excluding machine-to-machine connections, Jio gained about 1.86 million subscribers, Airtel added 180,000 and Vodafone Idea lost around 310,000.
- Jio retains market leadership: Jio held a 39.32% wireless mobile market share at the end of September, followed by Airtel at 38.02%.
- BSNL also gained users: The state-owned operator added approximately 626,000 wireless mobile subscribers.
- India’s telecom market expands: The total telephone subscriber base rose to 1.368 billion, including wireless and wireline connections.
- 5G fixed wireless grows: Jio added more 5G fixed wireless access customers than Airtel during the month.
Jio and Airtel Subscriber Additions in September
TRAI’s September 2026 figures show that Jio and Airtel remained closely matched in reported monthly wireless mobile additions.
| Telecom operator | Subscribers added in September | Subscriber base at month-end |
|---|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | 2.713 million | 511.14 million |
| Bharti Airtel | 2.692 million | 494.29 million |
| Vodafone Idea | 550,119 | 200.12 million |
| BSNL | 625,633 | 94.30 million |
| MTNL | -6,628 | 0.15 million |
Source: TRAI data reported by Business Standard and TelecomTalk. Figures are rounded.
Jio’s lead over Airtel was only about 20,500 subscribers for the month. Both companies maintained their positions as India’s largest private telecom operators, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL also recorded additions.
The monthly numbers should not be interpreted as a complete measure of business performance. Subscriber growth does not automatically translate into higher revenue or profitability. Revenue per user, customer retention, data consumption, network investment and the mix of consumer and enterprise connections also influence an operator’s financial position.
Why M2M Connections Change the Growth Story
Machine-to-machine connections allow devices to communicate over mobile networks without requiring conventional person-to-person usage. Examples include connected utility meters, vehicle trackers, industrial equipment and other Internet of Things devices.
These connections are increasingly important for telecom companies serving enterprise customers. However, they are different from individual mobile subscriptions, and their revenue characteristics can differ from those of conventional consumer connections.
Financial Express reported that after excluding M2M connections, Jio added approximately 1.86 million subscribers in September. Airtel’s comparable additions fell to around 180,000, while Vodafone Idea recorded a net loss of approximately 310,000 subscribers.
This difference helps explain why headline subscriber additions alone can give an incomplete picture of competition.
| Operator | Reported additions | Additions excluding M2M, as reported by Financial Express |
|---|---|---|
| Jio | Approximately 2.71 million | Approximately 1.86 million |
| Airtel | Approximately 2.69 million | Approximately 0.18 million |
| Vodafone Idea | Approximately 0.55 million | Approximately -0.31 million |
Source: Financial Express. Figures are rounded.
The figures indicate that Jio’s conventional subscriber additions were substantially higher than Airtel’s during the month. Airtel, meanwhile, continued to have a large overall customer base and reported a high proportion of active subscribers.
M2M growth remains commercially relevant, but analysts assessing telecom competition need to distinguish between enterprise device connections and traditional mobile users.
Jio Maintains Its Lead Over Airtel
At the end of September, Jio had approximately 511.14 million wireless mobile subscribers, compared with Airtel’s 494.29 million. Vodafone Idea had around 200.12 million, while BSNL’s base stood at approximately 94.30 million.
| Operator | Wireless mobile market share |
|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | 39.32% |
| Bharti Airtel | 38.02% |
| Vodafone Idea | 15.39% |
| BSNL | 7.25% |
| MTNL | Approximately 0.01% |
Source: TRAI data reported by Business Standard.
Jio’s lead over Airtel was approximately 1.3 percentage points. Both companies maintained their market shares at roughly their August levels, while Vodafone Idea’s share declined slightly.
The relatively narrow gap between Jio and Airtel highlights the importance of customer acquisition and retention. Both operators compete through network coverage, 5G availability, bundled services, broadband offerings and their ability to attract customers willing to pay for higher-value plans.
India’s Telecom Subscriber Base Reaches 1.368 Billion
India’s overall telephone subscriber base increased by 7.23 million during September, reaching approximately 1.368 billion at the end of the month. The total includes wireless and wireline connections.
The wireless subscriber base, which includes mobile and fixed wireless access connections, increased to approximately 1.319 billion. Wireline connections rose by around 290,000 to 48.74 million.
The country’s wireless mobile subscriber base reached approximately 1.3 billion, up from 1.293 billion in August. The monthly growth rate was around 0.51%.
These figures reflect the scale of India’s connectivity market, where mobile networks support consumer communications, business operations, digital payments, streaming, cloud services and connected devices.
However, the total number of connections is not the same as the number of unique people using mobile services. Individuals may hold multiple SIM cards, and M2M connections can represent devices rather than human subscribers.
Jio Leads Airtel in 5G Fixed Wireless Access Additions
Jio also outperformed Airtel in new 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) customers during September.
| Metric | Jio | Airtel |
|---|---|---|
| New 5G FWA customers | 98,386 | 53,354 |
| September-end 5G FWA base | 9.52 million | 4.09 million |
Source: Financial Express.
Fixed wireless access delivers broadband connectivity through a wireless network rather than a conventional fixed-line connection to the premises. It can offer an alternative for households and businesses in locations where fibre deployment is expensive or less convenient.
Jio’s larger FWA base gives it a substantial position in this segment. Both operators, however, recorded a slowdown in monthly additions compared with August.
For telecom companies, home broadband is an important opportunity to generate revenue beyond mobile services. The long-term commercial outcome will depend on customer demand, network capacity, installation costs and competition from fibre broadband providers.
What the Numbers Mean for Telecom Competition
September’s figures show that Jio and Airtel continue to dominate private-sector subscriber growth, but their reported additions need to be assessed alongside subscriber mix and service performance.
Jio’s stronger additions excluding M2M connections suggest that it attracted more conventional mobile subscribers during the month. Airtel’s large customer base and high active-subscriber proportion remain relevant indicators of its market position. Vodafone Idea’s figures also demonstrate why growth in total connections does not necessarily mean stronger consumer demand.
For the industry, competition is likely to depend increasingly on customer value rather than raw subscriber totals. Operators must balance subscriber acquisition with network investment, service quality, spectrum costs and the ability to generate sustainable revenue.
The Bigger Picture
India’s telecom market is continuing to expand, with growth spread across mobile services, broadband and connected devices. Jio and Airtel remain central to that expansion, but the September data illustrates why headline additions should not be read in isolation. The distinction between M2M and conventional mobile subscriptions provides a more useful view of how operators are acquiring customers.
The data also highlights the growing role of fixed wireless broadband and enterprise connectivity alongside traditional mobile services. As 5G adoption expands, operators will need to convert network investment into reliable service, customer retention and higher-value usage. Future TRAI reports will help establish whether September’s subscriber trends continue in the months ahead.
FAQs
1. How many subscribers did Jio add in September 2026?
Jio added approximately 2.713 million wireless mobile subscribers during September, taking its subscriber base to around 511.14 million.
2. How many subscribers did Airtel add in September?
Airtel added approximately 2.692 million wireless mobile subscribers, bringing its subscriber base to around 494.29 million at the end of September.
3. Why do subscriber additions look different after excluding M2M connections?
M2M connections belong to connected devices rather than conventional individual mobile users. Excluding them changes the reported growth figures and provides a clearer view of additions to the conventional subscriber base.
4. Which telecom operator has the largest wireless mobile subscriber base in India?
Reliance Jio remained India’s largest wireless mobile operator by subscriber base at the end of September 2026, with a reported market share of 39.32%.
5. How many telephone subscribers does India have?
India’s total telephone subscriber base, including wireless and wireline connections, reached approximately 1.368 billion at the end of September 2026, according to TRAI data.
Looking Ahead
The next monthly TRAI report will show whether Jio and Airtel maintain their closely matched headline additions and whether the difference in conventional subscriber growth persists. Changes in active users, market share and M2M connections will be important for understanding the quality of subscriber growth across operators.
For investors and industry observers, the key question is whether customer additions translate into stronger revenue, improved retention and sustainable returns on network investment. Subscriber numbers remain an important indicator, but they provide only one part of the picture of India’s competitive telecom market.
Get the day’s top stories in your inbox
One concise email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
