iWorld
Reliance Jio added 0.2 mn wireless subscribers in November 2022: Trai
Mumbai: As per subscription data by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), Reliance Jio added 0.2 million wireless subscribers at the end of November. Bharti Airtel added 0.1 million during the same period. In November, Vodafone Idea lost 20735 wireless subscribers.
The total number of wireless subscribers decreased from 1,143.63 million to 1,143.04 million in November. The number of wireless subscribers in urban areas increased from 625.18 million to 626.60 million. However, wireless subscriptions in rural areas decreased from 518.45 million to 516.45 million.
As per Trai data, there were 1012.33 active wireless subscribers during the month. Reliance Jio had the highest number of active wireless subscribers at 388.00 million, followed by Bharti Airtel at 359.00 million and Vodafone Idea at 209.70 million. BSNL had 54.96 million active wireless subscribers.
As per information received from 887 operators in November, Trai found that total broadband subscribers increased from 821.49 million to 825.38 million. The broadband subscribers comprised 792.47 million mobile device users, 31.83 million wired subscribers, and 1.08 million fixed wireless subscribers.
The top five broadband service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm with 430.18 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel (230.56 million), Vodafone Idea (123.48 million), BSNL (25.85 million), and Atria Convergence (2.14 million).
The top five wired broadband service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm with 7.38 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel (5.56 million), BSNL (4.02 million), Atria Convergence (2.14 million) and Hathway Cable & Datacom (1.13 million).
The top five wireless broadband service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm (422.81 million), Bharti Airtel (225 million), Vodafone Idea (123.47 million), BSNL (21.83 million) and Intech Online (0.23 million).
The number of wireline subscribers increased from 26.82 million to 27.13 million in November.
The number of telephone subscribers in India decreased from 1,170.45 million to 1,170.18 million. Urban telephone subscriptions decreased from 649.99 million to 651.68 million. However, rural subscriptions also increased from 520.46 million to 518.50 million.
During November, a total of 12.02 million requests were received for mobile number portability (MNP).
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
