India’s telecom sector maintained its growth momentum in August 2025, with the number of active mobile subscribers surpassing 1,086.18 million, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This accounts for around 93.07 percent of the total wireless subscriber base of 1,167.03 million.

The report (released on October 7) highlights consistent growth across both urban and rural markets, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile, broadband and wireless services, an ANI report stated.

During August, 15.05 million subscribers submitted requests for Mobile Number Portability, reflecting consumers’ continued pursuit of better connectivity and service quality.

The total wireless (mobile + fixed wireless access) subscriber count rose from 1,171.91 million in July to 1,178.03 million in August, marking a monthly growth rate of 0.52 percent. Urban wireless subscriptions climbed from 641.03 million to 645.27 million (up 0.66 percent), while rural subscriptions grew from 530.88 million to 532.76 million (up 0.36 percent). Urban areas continued to dominate the market with a 54.78 percent share, compared to 45.22 percent from rural users.

The country’s wireless tele-density, an indicator of mobile penetration, improved from 82.75 percent in July to 83.12 percent in August. Urban tele-density reached 126.38 percent, while rural tele-density edged up to 58.76 percent, underscoring the continued urban-rural digital divide despite overall growth.

In the broadband segment, subscriptions grew modestly by 0.50 percent, increasing from 984.69 million in July to 989.58 million in August 2025. TRAI said data for the month was compiled from 1,426 operators across the country.

However, the wireline segment continued to face challenges. The total wireline subscriber base declined from 48.11 million in July to 46.51 million in August, a net drop of 1.61 million users or 3.34 percent monthly contraction. Consequently, India’s wireline tele-density slipped to 3.28 percent, down from 3.40 percent the previous month.

Urban areas accounted for 89.28 percent of total wireline subscribers, while rural users made up 10.72 percent. Among service providers, public sector undertakings, including BSNL, MTNL and APSFL, collectively maintained a 20.53 percent share of the wireline market.

With mobile and broadband connectivity continuing to expand and wireline networks shrinking, the August data underscores the steady shift toward wireless-first communication in India’s rapidly digitizing economy.