India’s broadband subscriber base crossed the landmark 1 billion (100 crore) mark in November, reflecting the country’s rapid digital expansion over the past decade, the government said on Wednesday.

The growth highlights the deepening reach of internet connectivity across urban and rural India, driven by increased smartphone usage, affordable data plans and network expansion.

According to an IANS report, the broadband subscriber base has grown more than six times in the last 10 years. Official data from the Ministry of Communications shows that India had 131.49 million (13.15 crore) broadband subscribers at the end of November 2015. This number rose sharply to 1 billion (100.37 crore) by the end of November 2025, underscoring the scale and pace of digital adoption in the country.

The broader internet user base has also continued to expand steadily. Data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) shows that the total number of internet subscribers increased from 1002.85 million at the end of the April–June quarter (Q1 FY26) to 1017.81 million by the end of the July–September quarter (Q2 FY26), registering a quarterly growth of 1.49 per cent.

As per TRAI data, out of a total 1,070.81 million internet subscribers, wired internet users accounted for 44.42 million, while wireless internet subscribers stood at 973.39 million, reflecting India’s continued reliance on mobile-based connectivity. The broadband internet subscriber base grew by 1.63 per cent, rising from 979.71 million at the end of June to 995.63 million by the end of September. In contrast, the narrowband internet subscriber base declined marginally from 23.14 million in the June quarter to 22.18 million at the end of September.

The wireline segment showed mixed trends during the same period. Wireline subscribers fell from 47.49 million at the end of the April–June quarter to 46.61 million by the end of the September quarter, marking a quarterly decline of 1.84 per cent. However, on a year-on-year basis, wireline subscriptions recorded a growth of 26.21 per cent by the end of the July–September quarter, indicating renewed interest in fixed-line connections, particularly for high-speed broadband.

Financial indicators also showed improvement, with the monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services increasing by 10.67 per cent on a year-on-year basis during the quarter. The government said the sustained rise in subscriber numbers and revenues reflects the growing role of digital connectivity in India’s economy and everyday life.