Cable TV
Jio & Hathway continue to lead wireless and wired Internet subs growth in 2018
BENGALURU: India witnessed 1.74 percent growth in broadband internet customers in the month of April 2018 (Apr-18, month under review) according Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data for the month ended 30 April 2018. Hence, 71.90 lakh (7.19 million, 0.719 crore) broadband subscribers were added in Apr-18.
The smallest segment among broadband internet services providers – the Fixed wireless- WiFi, Wi Max, Point to Point, Radio, Vsat segment, lost about 40,000 subscribers – the segment’s subscriber base fell from 4.6 lakh (0.46 million or 0.046 crore) to 4.2 lakh (0.42 million or 0.042 crore) during the month. The wired broadband internet subscriber base grew by 20,000 to 179.70 lakh (17.97 million, 1.797 crore) in Apr-18 from 179.50 lakh (17.95 million, 1.795 crore) in the previous month.
A major portion-100.42 percent (72.20 lakh or 7.22 million or 0.722 crore) of the new users opted for wireless broadband internet through mobile devices and dongles in Apr-18. The mobile devices and dongles segment grew 1.83 percent in the month. It may be noted that TRAI considers download speeds equal to or in excess of 512 kbps as broadband internet. Also, TRAI subscriber numbers data is published in millions with 2 decimal places, hence the accuracy of this report is limited to the nearest 10,000 (Ten Thousand).
As on 30 April 2018, the top five Wireless Broadband Service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd with 1,961.9 lakh (196.19 million, 19.619 crore), Bharti Airtel or Airtel with 875.1 lakh (87.51 million, 8.751 crore), Vodafone with 599 lakh (59.9 million, 5.99 crore), Idea Cellular with 424 lakh (42.4 million, 4.24 crore) and BSNLwith 115.1 lakh (11.51 million, 1.151 crore) subscribers respectively.
Wireless Internet
Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) showed the largest growth in terms of absolute numbers across all segments. Jio’s subscribers have grown by 17.32 percent in calendar year 2018 (CY 2018) since 31 December 2017 (or 1 January 2018, Dec-17). Its subscriber base has grown from 1,600.9 lakh (160.09 million, 16.009 crore) as on 1 January 2017 to 1,961.9 lakh (196.19 million or 19.619 crore) on 30 April 2018. Jio grew by 95.59 lakh (9.559 million, 0.9559 crore) in April 2018. At present, Jio provides only wireless broadband internet services through mobile devices including phones and dongles. The highest growth rate in CY 2018 until April 2018 was by Idea Cellular at 21.80 percent. Idea Cellular also led subscriber growth in Apr-18 with respect to Mar-18 with 6.45 percent growth. BSNL has being losing subscribers on a regular basis. Please refer to the figure below.
Wired Internet
Growth of the wired internet subscribers until Apr-18 was led by Hathway Cable & Datacom Limited (Hathway). The company added about 60,000 (grew by 8.22 percent) subscribers in CY 2018 until Apr-18 and its subscriber base grew to 7.9 lakh (0.79 million, 0.079 crore) in Apr-18 from 7.3 lakh (0.73 million, 0.073 crore) at the beginning of CY 2018. Hathway subs base grew by 1.28 percent (added 10,000 subscribers) in Apr- from 7.8 lakh (0.78 million, 0.078 crore) in Mar-18.
In Apr-18, the top five Wired Broadband Service providers were BSNL with 92.4 lakh (9.24 million, 0.924 crore), Bharti Airtel with 21.9 lakh (2.19 million, 0.219 crore), Atria Convergence Technologies or ACT with 13.1 lakh (1.31 million, 0.131 crore), MTNL 8.6 lakh (0.86 million, 0.086 crore and Hathway with 7.9 lakh (0.79 million, 0.079 crore) subscribers respectively. The government’s BSNL and MTNL have in general being losing subscribers. Please refer to the figure below.
All Internet
Top five service providers constituted 97.42 percent market share in Apr-18 as compared to 95.23 percent market share in Mar-18 of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Apr-18. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd with 1961.9 lakh (196.19 million, 19.619 crore), Bharti Airtel with 897 lakh (89.70 million, 8.970 crore), Vodafone with 599.1 lakh (59.91 million, 5.991 crore), Idea Cellular with 424.1 lakh (42.41 million 4.241 crore) and BSNL with 207.5 lakh (20.75 million, 2.075 crire) subscribers respectively.
Cable TV
Hathway Cable appoints Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as CEO
Leadership change comes as cable TV faces shrinking subscriber base and modest earnings pressure
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has tapped industry veteran Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as chief executive officer, marking a leadership pivot at a time when India’s cable television business is under mounting strain.
Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, who is set to retire in August after a long innings with the company. Panesar, chief executive since 2023, has held multiple leadership roles at Hathway, including his latest stint beginning in 2022.
Kapoor brings more than three decades of experience in media and entertainment. He most recently led distribution at The Walt Disney Company’s Star India business, now part of JioStar. His career spans television distribution and affiliate partnerships, with stints at Sony Pictures Networks India, Discovery Communications and Zee Entertainment.
Panesar, with over three decades in the industry, has worked across strategic planning, distribution and business development in media, broadcasting and manufacturing. His past associations include ESPN Star Sports, Star India, Apollo Tyres and JK Industries.
The transition lands as the cable sector grapples with structural disruption. Traditional operators are losing ground to streaming platforms, while telecom and broadband players tighten the squeeze with bundled offerings.
An EY report estimates India’s pay-TV base could shrink by a further 30 to 40 million households by 2030, taking the total down to 71 to 81 million. The slide follows a loss of nearly 40 million homes between 2018 and 2024, a contraction that has already wiped out more than 37,000 jobs in the local cable operator ecosystem.
Hathway’s numbers reflect the strain. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 93 crore for FY25, down from Rs 99 crore a year earlier. Revenue inched up to Rs 2,040 crore from Rs 1,981 crore. As of December 2025, it had about 4.7 million cable TV subscribers and roughly 1.02 million broadband users.
Kapoor steps in with a familiar brief but a shrinking playbook. In a market where viewers are cutting cords faster than companies can reinvent them, the new chief executive inherits a business fighting to stay plugged in.
