India’s Broadband Boom: Subscriber Base Surpasses One Billion Milestone

India crossed one billion broadband subscribers in November, marking a major digital milestone. Broadband users grew over sixfold from 131 million in 2015 to 1.003 billion in 2025. Total internet subscribers reached 1.018 billion, driven mainly by wireless connections. Broadband continues rising, narrowband declining, while wireless ARPU and year-on-year wireline growth improved. Quarterly growth remained steady nationwide during recent quarters.

India has reached a landmark moment in its digital journey, with the country’s broadband subscriber base crossing the one-billion mark in November, according to a statement from the government released recently.

Official figures show that broadband adoption has expanded dramatically over the past decade. In November 2015, India had just over 131 million broadband users. By November 2025, that number had surged to approximately 1.003 billion, reflecting more than a sixfold increase, data from the Ministry of Communications indicated.

The overall internet user base has also continued its upward trajectory. Recent statistics from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reveal that total internet subscriptions rose from 1,002.85 million at the end of the April–June quarter (Q1 FY26) to 1,017.81 million by the close of the July–September quarter (Q2 FY26). This represents a quarter-on-quarter growth of 1.49 percent.

Breaking down the numbers further, TRAI data shows that India had around 1,070.81 million internet subscribers during the period under review. Of these, wired internet connections accounted for 44.42 million users, while wireless internet dominated with 973.39 million subscribers, underscoring the country’s strong reliance on mobile-based connectivity.

Broadband subscriptions, in particular, recorded steady growth. The broadband internet user base increased by 1.63 percent, rising from 979.71 million at the end of June to 995.63 million by the end of September. In contrast, narrowband internet usage continued to decline, with subscriptions falling from 23.14 million in the June quarter to 22.18 million at the end of the September quarter.

Trends in wireline services presented a mixed picture. On a quarterly basis, wireline subscribers dipped from 47.49 million at the end of Q1 to 46.61 million by the end of Q2, marking a decline of 1.84 percent. However, when viewed year-on-year, wireline connections showed notable growth, increasing by 26.21 percent at the end of the July–September quarter.

In addition to subscriber growth, revenue metrics also improved. Monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services rose by 10.67 percent on a year-on-year basis during the quarter, signaling stronger monetization alongside expanding connectivity.

Together, these figures highlight the scale and pace of India’s digital expansion, driven largely by broadband and wireless services, as the country continues to deepen internet access across urban and rural regions alike.