TRAI has released The Indian Telecom Services–Yearly Performance Indicators for the year 2024–25. This report provides a broad overview of Telecom Services in India and presents key parameters and growth trends across Telecom, Cable TV, DTH, and Radio Broadcasting services from 1st April, 2024 to 31st March, 2025. The report is compiled primarily from data furnished by service providers.
Internet and Broadband Subscribers
The total number of internet subscribers increased from 954.40 million at the end of Mar-24 to 969.10 million at the end of Mar-25, registering a yearly growth rate of 1.54%. Of the 969.10 million internet subscribers, broadband subscribers numbered 944.12 million while narrowband subscribers stood at 24.98 million at the end of Mar-25.
Number of broadband subscribers increased from 924.07 million at the end of Mar-24 to 944.12 million at the end of Mar-25 with yearly rate of growth of 2.17%. The number of narrowband subscribers decreased from 30.34 million at the end of Mar-24 to 24.98 million at the end of Mar-25 with yearly rate of decline of 17.66%.
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) per month for wireless service increased from Rs.149.25 in 2023-24 to Rs.174.46 in 2024-25, thereby showing a yearly rate of growth of 16.89%.
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) per month for prepaid service increased from Rs.146.37 in 2023-24 to Rs.173.84 in 2024-25. However, ARPU per month for postpaid service decreased from Rs.184.63 to Rs.180.86 during the same period.
Average Minutes of Usage (MOUs) per subscriber per month increased from 963 in 2023-24 to 1000 in 2024-25 with yearly rate of growth of 3.91%.
Minutes of Usage (MOUs) per subscriber per month for postpaid services decreased from 544 during the year 2023-24 to 503 in 2024-25. However, MoUs for prepaid services increased from 997 to 1047 during the same period.
Number of wireless data subscribers has increased from 913.34 million at the end of Mar-24 to 939.51 million at the end of Mar-25 with yearly rate of growth of 2.87%. Further, total volume of wireless data usage increased from 1,94,774 PB during the year 2023-24 to 2,28,779 PB during the year 2024-25 with yearly growth of 17.46%.
Total revenue from wireless data usage increased from Rs.1,86,226 crore in the year 2023-24 to Rs.2,15,078 crore in the year 2024-25 with yearly rate of growth of 15.49%.
The total number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,199.28 million at the end of Mar-24 to 1,200.80 million at the end of Mar-25, registering a yearly rate of growth 0.13%. The overall tele-density in India decreased from 85.69% at the end of Mar-24 to 85.04% at the end of Mar-25 at yearly rate of decline 0.75%.
Telephone subscription in urban areas increased from 665.38 million at the end of Mar-24 to 666.11 million at the end of Mar-25 at the yearly rate of growth 0.11%. However, urban tele-density declined from 133.72% at the end of Mar-24 to 131.45% at the end of Mar-25 with yearly rate of decline of 1.70%.
Rural telephone subscription increased from 533.90 million at the end of Mar-24 to 534.69 million at the end of Mar-25 at the yearly rate of growth of 0.15%. However, rural tele-density decreased from 59.19% to 59.06% during the same period of time.
Trend of Tele-density
Out of the total telephone subscription, the shares of Rural telephone subscription increased from 44.52% at the end of Mar-24 to 44.53% at the end of Mar-25. The following chart depicts the rural-urban market share of telephone subscribers of the four years.
Out of 1,200.80 million of total telephone subscriber, the number of Wireless (Mobile+5G FWA) Telephone subscribers is 1,163.76 million and the number of Wireline Telephone subscribers is 37.04 million at the end of Mar-25. The following chart depicts the market share of Wireless and Wireline subscribers in India.
Composition of Market Share
Wireless & Wireline Subscribers
Total wireless subscribers decreased from 1,165.49 million (Mobile) at the end of Mar-24 to 1,163.76 million (Mobile+5G FWA) at the end of Mar-25, thereby showing a yearly rate of decline of 0.15%. During the year 2024-25, net loss of 1.74 million wireless subscribers was recorded.
Overall wireless teledensity decreased from 83.27% (Mobile) at the end of Mar-24 to 82.42% (Mobile+5G FWA) at the end of Mar-25. Rural wireless teledensity decreased from 58.87% to 58.67% and urban wireless teledensity also decreased from 127.51% to 124.83% at the end of Mar-25.
Wireless (Mobile) subscribers decreased from 1,165.49 million at the end of Mar-24 to 1,156.99 million at the end of Mar-25, thereby showing a yearly rate of decline of 0.73%. During the year 2024-25, net loss of 8.50 million wireless subscribers was recorded.
Wireless (Mobile) teledensity decreased from 83.27% at the end of Mar-24 to 81.94% at the end of Mar-25. Rural wireless teledensity decreased from 58.87% to 58.40% and urban wireless teledensity also decreased from 127.51% to 123.99% at the end of Mar-25.
Total wireline subscriber base increased from 33.79 million at the end of Mar-24 to 37.04 million at the end of Mar-25 with yearly rate of growth of 9.62%.
Overall wireline tele-density increased from 2.41% at the end of Mar-24 to 2.62% at the end of Mar-25. During the same period rural wireline tele-density increased from 0.32% to 0.39% and urban wireline tele-density also increased from 6.21% to 6.62%.
Gross Revenue (GR) increased from Rs.3,36,066 crore in the year 2023-24 to Rs.3,72,097 crore in the year 2024-25 with yearly rate of growth of 10.72% and Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) increased from Rs.3,23,142 crore to Rs.3,56,283 crore with yearly growth rate of 10.26% during same period. Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) also increased from Rs.2,70,504 crore in the year 2023-24 to Rs.3,03,025 crore in the year 2024-25 with yearly rate of growth of 12.02%.
Pass through charges decreased by 1.31% from Rs.53,579 crore in the year 2023-24 to Rs.52,879 crore in the year 2024-25. Pass-through charges as a percentage of Gross Revenue are 14.21% in 2024-25 as against 15.94% in the previous financial year.
Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) yearly increased by 13.02% from Rs.3,369 crore in the year 2023-24 to Rs.3,807 crore in the year 2024-25 and License Fee also increased by 12.02% from Rs.21,642 crore to Rs.24,242 crore during the same period.
Service wise composition of Adjusted Gross Revenue for the year 2024-25
Access services contributed 83.65% of the total Adjusted Gross Revenue of telecom services. In access services, Gross Revenue (GR), Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR), Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), License Fee (LF) and Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) increased by 13.77%, 12.88%, 15.52%, 15.57% and 13.11% respectively in the year 2024-25 over the year 2023-24. However, Pass Through Charges decreased by 1.98% during the same period.
A total of approximately 918 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), as on 31.03.2025, for uplinking only/downlinking only/both uplinking and downlinking. Out of 918 permitted satellite TV channels, 908 channels are available for downlinking in India.
As per the reporting done by broadcasters in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated 3rd March 2017 as amended, out of 908 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 333 satellite pay TV channels as on 31st March 2025. Out of 333 pay channels, 232 are SD satellite pay TV channels and 101 are HD satellite pay TV channels.
During the period ending 31st March, 2025, there were 4 pay DTH service providers in India. Pay DTH has net pay active subscriber base of around 56.92 million, as on 31st March, 2025 as compared to 61.97 million subscribers, as on 31st March, 2024. This is in addition to the subscribers of the free DTH services of Doordarshan.
Apart from the radio stations operated by All India Radio, the public broadcaster, as on 31st March 2024, there were 388 operational private FM Radio stations in 113 cities with operational 36 private FM Radio broadcasters. During the quarter ending 31st March 2025, six channels operated by three private FM radio operators, namely, (i) Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd (3 channels), (ii) Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd (2 channels), and (iii) Digital Radio (Kolkata) Broadcasting Ltd (1 channel), were merged with South Asia FM Ltd. Now, as of 31st March 2025, there are 388 operational private FM radio channels across 113 cities, operated by 33 private FM radio operators.
As on 31st March 2025, 531 Community Radio stations are operational as compared to 494 Community Radio stations, as on 31st March, 2024.
Telecom Subscriber Data (as on 31st March, 2025)
Value
Total Subscribers (Wireless + Wireline) stood at 1,200.80 million, reflecting a 0.13% increase over the previous year. Urban subscribers accounted for 666.11 million, while rural subscribers were 534.69 million. The market share of private operators was 91.47%, whereas public sector undertakings (PSU) operators held 8.53%. Overall tele-density was recorded at 85.04%, with urban tele-density at 131.45% and rural tele-density at 59.06%.
Wireless Subscribers (as on 31st March, 2025)
Value
As of 31st March 2025, the total number of wireless subscribers in India, including both mobile and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), stood at 1,163.76 million. Of this, mobile subscribers accounted for 1,156.99 million, while 5G FWA subscribers were 6.77 million. This represents a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.15% in total wireless subscribers.
Urban areas had 632.57 million wireless subscribers, whereas rural areas accounted for 531.18 million. The wireless tele-density across the country was 82.42%, with urban tele-density at 124.83% and rural tele-density at 58.67%.
Private sector operators held a market share of 92.09%, while public sector operators accounted for 7.91%. In terms of infrastructure, there were 67,023 Public Mobile Radio Trunk Services (PMRTS) and 2,43,663 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) in operation as of the same date.
Wireline Subscribers (as on 31st March, 2025)
Value
As of 31st March 2025, the total number of wireline subscribers in India was recorded at 37.04 million, reflecting a yearly growth of 9.62%. Out of the total, urban areas accounted for 33.54 million subscribers, while rural areas had 3.50 million.
Private operators had a majority market share of 72.13%, whereas public sector undertakings (PSUs) held the remaining 27.87%. The overall wireline tele-density in the country stood at 2.62%. Urban wireline tele-density was 6.62%, and rural wireline tele-density remained significantly lower at 0.39%.
Additionally, there were 10,185 operational Public Call Offices (PCOs) across India at the end of the reporting period.
Internet/Broadband Subscribers (as on 31st March, 2025)
Value
As of 31st March 2025, India had a total of 969.10 million internet subscribers, marking a year-on-year growth of 1.54%. Of these, 944.12 million were broadband subscribers, while 24.98 million were narrowband users.
In terms of access mode, 41.41 million subscribers used wired internet services, and 927.70 million were connected through wireless internet.
The urban internet subscriber base was 561.42 million, and the rural internet base stood at 407.69 million. On a per capita basis, there were 68.63 internet subscribers per 100 population in the country. The urban internet penetration was 110.79 subscribers per 100 people, whereas rural areas had 45.03 subscribers per 100 population.
Telecom Financial Data for FY 2024–25
Value
During the financial year 2024–25, the telecom sector in India recorded a Gross Revenue (GR) of ₹3,72,097 crore, reflecting a growth of 10.72% over the previous year. The Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) stood at ₹3,56,283 crore, showing a year-on-year increase of 10.26%.
Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) was ₹3,03,025 crore, with a growth rate of 12.02% compared to the previous year. Within the AGR from access services, the share of public sector operators was 3.56%.
Broadcasting and Cable Services Data (2025)
Value
As of 31st March 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had permitted a total of 918 private satellite TV channels for uplinking only, downlinking only, or both. Out of these, 333 channels are classified as pay TV channels.
The number of private FM radio stations (excluding All India Radio) stood at 388. These operate across various cities through licensed private broadcasters.
The pay DTH sector had 4 operators with a combined active pay subscriber base of 56.92 million as of the same date.
Additionally, 531 community radio stations were operational across India.
Revenue & Usage Parameters (2024–25)
Value
During the financial year 2024–25, the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) per month for wireless services was Rs.174.46, reflecting a 16.89% increase over the previous year. The average Minutes of Usage (MoU) per wireless subscriber per month reached 1000 minutes.
For wireless data services, the average revenue generated per data subscriber per month was Rs.231.46. The average realization per gigabyte (GB) of wireless data used was Rs.8.97. On average, each wireless data subscriber used 21.53 GB per month.