India’s telecom subscriber base reached 133.75 crore in April 2026, with Airtel the top wireless gainer at 31.4 lakh and Jio close behind at 29.4 lakh, according to TRAI data published on May 26, 2026.
This is April’s data. TRAI has since published figures through September, and we keep the newer months in separate reports. Details are based on The Week.
TRAI data, April 2026
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total subscribers | 133.75 crore |
| Airtel wireless additions | 31.4 lakh |
| Jio wireless additions | 29.4 lakh |
How this fits the trend
April’s pattern continued through the months that followed, with Airtel and Jio taking almost all new users. Airtel led additions in April, May and June, and Jio led in August and September.
Vi and BSNL’s numbers moved far less. Monthly additions alone can mislead, so TRAI’s active-user data is worth reading alongside them.
Our reports on the May data and the June data, when India added 53.8 lakh mobile users, cover the next two months. April’s national figures also hid a split for Vodafone Idea, which gained users overall but lost them in 12 circles.
TRAI’s press release gives the rest of the picture. Vi added 53,257 wireless subscribers in April and BSNL 76,175, far behind Airtel’s 31,39,228 and Jio’s 29,42,643, while rural wireless subscribers across these operators rose by about 23.9 lakh. Every telecom circle recorded growth in wireless subscribers during the month.
Our six-month analysis of TRAI data puts April alongside the five months that followed: Airtel added about 1.66 crore mobile users between April and September and Jio about 1.48 crore, with Jio ahead in August and September.
Why it matters for mobile shops
Older monthly data is useful as background only. For stocking and sales decisions, use the latest TRAI report. The bigger pattern is clear: most new users are going to Airtel and Jio.
