Team siliconindia

• Reliance Jio leads subscriber additions with nearly 10 million new users
• Airtel boosts 5G users to 152 million and records strong broadband growth
• Vodafone Idea expands 5G coverage despite slight subscriber loss

India’s telecom sector posted steady growth in the first quarter of FY26, driven by strong subscriber additions and rapid 5G network expansion. Major players Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea focused on improving network coverage and retaining customers, while tower and digital service providers also reported positive results.

Reliance Jio led the market with 9.9 million new subscribers, increasing its total user base to 498.1 million. Airtel added 1.2 million new wireless customers and saw 3.9 million smartphone activations, which helped grow its 5G user base to 152 million. Vodafone Idea faced a slight net loss of 0.5 million subscribers but gained 1 million new 4G users, raising its combined 4G/5G base to 127.4 million.

Average revenue per user (ARPU) improved across all key operators. Airtel maintained the highest ARPU at Rs 250 per month, a 2% increase from the previous quarter. Jio’s ARPU rose 1.3% to Rs 209, supported by a richer customer base and growing fixed wireless access adoption. Vodafone Idea’s ARPU inched up slightly to Rs 165.

5G adoption accelerated with Jio reaching 213 million 5G subscribers. Airtel also posted its highest ever broadband net additions of 0.94 million, including 0.54 million from fixed wireless access. Jio expanded its home internet connections to over 20 million, while Vodafone Idea rolled out 5G services in major cities and aims to cover all 17 spectrum circles by August 2025.

In the tower segment, Indus Towers grew revenue through the addition of 2,468 new macro towers and 5,777 co-locations, pushing its total infrastructure to over 251,800 towers. The company also advanced solar powered sites, adding more than 2,250 during the quarter.

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Among digital service providers, Tata Communications reported a 5.8% year on year revenue increase to Rs 59.6 billion, supported by growth in cloud, security, and connectivity services. The company improved its EBITDA margin to 19.1%, indicating stronger operational efficiency.

Overall, the telecom sector’s Q1 results reflect continued progress in subscriber growth, 5G adoption, and infrastructure expansion, setting a positive tone for the rest of FY26.