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Dialling up the digits India’s telecom counts a quarter of steady gains
MUMBAI: India’s telecom numbers are ringing loud again, and this time the caller tune is pure growth. TRAI’s latest Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for July–September 2025 shows the sector quietly but firmly notching up gains across subscribers, revenue, and data consumption even as cable, DTH, and radio continue to track their own shifts.
For starters, India’s Internet universe grew wider, climbing from 1002.85 million users in June to 1017.81 million by September, marking a tidy 1.49 per cent quarterly rise. Of these, 995.63 million were broadband users up 1.63 per cent while narrowband dropped to 22.18 million, continuing its slow glide into irrelevance. Wireless continues to dominate, accounting for 973.39 million of all Internet connections.
The broader telecom subscriber count also ticked up. Total telephone users rose to 1,228.94 million, up 0.87 per cent from the previous quarter, pushing India’s tele-density to 86.65 per cent. Urban tele-density now sits at a booming 134.76 per cent, while rural areas inched to 59.52 per cent. But the rural share of total subscriptions slipped marginally from 44.20 per cent to 43.93 per cent, showing the urban surge continues to power ahead.
Wireless remains the heavyweight, adding 11.45 million users to reach 1,182.32 million, a 0.98 per cent quarterly rise. Of this, 1,170.44 million were mobile subscribers. Wireless tele-density climbed to 83.36 per cent.
Wireline, meanwhile, rang in a quieter quarter. Connections dipped to 46.61 million, down 1.84 per cent, although the segment shows a healthy 26.21 per cent year-on-year rise, thanks largely to fibre-led broadband adoption.
If operators were looking for good news, they found it in revenue. Wireless ARPU rose 2.34 per cent, climbing from Rs.186.62 in June to Rs.190.99 in September. Prepaid users averaged Rs.189.69, while postpaid stood at Rs.204.55. Wireless usage clocked 1005 minutes per subscriber per month, a marginal dip from 1006, though prepaid users towered at 1052 minutes compared to postpaid’s 516.
On the financial side, the sector posted strong numbers:
● Gross Revenue (GR): Rs.99,828 crore, up 3.29 per cent
● Applicable GR: Rs.94,301 crore, up 2.22 per cent
● Adjusted GR: Rs.82,348 crore, up 1.26 per cent
Year-on-year, the increases were even sharper 9.19 per cent for GR and 9.35 per cent for AGR. Licence fees rose to Rs.6,588 crore. Pass-through charges jumped 9.26 per cent sequentially to Rs.11,426 crore, though still showing an 11.61 per cent annual decline.
Access services which include mobile continued to dominate the industry, contributing 84.07 per cent of AGR.
On the broadcasting front, India now houses 916 permitted private satellite TV channels, of which 334 are pay channels (232 SD + 102 HD). Pay DTH subscribers dropped from 56.07 million to 52.78 million, even as DD Free Dish continues to quietly expand its reach.
In radio, private FM channels shrank from 388 to 387 after one operator shuttered its Gwalior station. Yet, revenues grew from Rs.383.14 crore to Rs.399.96 crore across these 387 stations, while 548 community radio stations remain operational nationwide.
The quarter also logged some massive digital usage markers. Wireless data consumption crossed 69,090 PB, with the average wireless data user consuming 25.24 GB per month. Wi-Fi hotspots reached 55,940, with 10,778 TB of data consumed.
Quality of Service metrics brought cheer too, all wireline operators and all wireless operators met every QoS benchmark across all service areas, spanning call setup, packet drops, outages, and billing.
In short, India’s telecom engine is humming steadily more broadband, more data, higher revenues, tighter QoS, and a subscriber base that refuses to slow down. The next quarter’s curve may bend higher or flatter, but for now, the sector’s signals are strong, stable, and unmistakably green.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
