Reliance Jio continued its relentless growth trajectory in April 2025, adding 2.6 million new subscribers and 5.5 million active users, solidifying its position as India’s telecom leader. The company’s Visitor Location Register (VLR) ratio—a critical metric for active network engagement—rose to 96.6%, reflecting robust user engagement. This performance underscores Jio’s ability to capitalize on India’s evolving digital demands, particularly in the rapidly expanding 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) segment, where it commands an 81.9% market share.
Jio’s 5G FWA Expansion Drives Growth
Jio’s aggressive rollout of its JioAirFiber service added 0.57 million new 5G FWA subscribers in April, up from 0.33 million in March. Now available in over 5,900 towns and cities, Jio’s FWA dominance highlights its strategic focus on bridging the gap between urban and rural connectivity. The company’s total 5G FWA market share has remained steady at 81.9%, far ahead of competitors.
Bharti Airtel’s Slowed Momentum
Bharti Airtel, while retaining the highest VLR ratio at 98.9%, saw its subscriber growth decelerate sharply, adding only 0.2 million new users in April compared to 1.3 million in March. The company’s active subscriber base also declined by 4.1 million, reversing gains made in previous months. However, Airtel maintained its leadership in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) segment with a 53.3% market share, followed by Vodafone Idea (23.6%) and Jio (18.2%). In the 5G FWA space, Airtel added 0.16 million subscribers, retaining an 18.1% market share.
Vodafone Idea and BSNL Struggle
Vodafone Idea (VIL) faced further challenges, losing 0.6 million subscribers and 1.1 million active users in April. The company’s mobile broadband subscriber base also plummeted by 0.8 million, with its VLR ratio stagnating at 85.1%. Similarly, state-owned BSNL lost 0.2 million subscribers and 1.8 million active users, with the lowest VLR ratio in the industry at 61.4%, signaling persistent operational inefficiencies.
Industry Recovery Post-Tariff Hike
The telecom sector added 1.9 million subscribers in April, marking a positive recovery after losing 21.9 million users between July and November 2024 due to SIM consolidation following a July 2024 tariff hike. The industry’s focus on higher ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) segments has driven this rebound, though challenges persist in retaining price-sensitive customers.
Data Limitations and Market Outlook
TRAI noted that Mobile Broadband (MBB) and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) data for Jio and Airtel from December 2024 onward remains unavailable, with April figures relying on November 2024 data. Despite this, Jio’s relentless innovation and Airtel’s premium positioning suggest a duopoly in India’s telecom landscape. For smaller players like Vodafone Idea and BSNL, strategic pivots and infrastructure investments are critical to regain relevance.
As India marches toward a 5G-driven future, Jio’s dominance and Airtel’s premium offerings are setting the pace, while the sector grapples with balancing growth, affordability, and technological advancement.