News Headline
Telecom Rings In Growth as India Adds Users and Hits New Connectivity Highs
MUMBAI: Dialling up the numbers, India’s telecom story added a few more bars in November. As the year wound down, the country’s telecom networks stayed busy, with subscriber additions, porting requests and broadband growth all flashing green. Data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India shows that November 2025 kept the sector firmly connected, even as growth settled into a steady rhythm.
India’s total telephone subscriber base rose to 1,234.53 million by the end of November, adding 3.16 million users in a single month. Wireless subscribers stood at 1,187.48 million, while wireline connections climbed to 47.05 million, reflecting a modest but consistent revival of fixed-line services. Overall tele-density edged up to 86.77 per cent, with urban India clocking an eye-catching 135.39 per cent, underlining the saturation in metros.
Broadband crossed a psychological milestone, with subscriptions touching 1,003.65 million, up from 999.81 million in October. Wireless broadband continued to do the heavy lifting, led by mobile data users at 944.48 million, while fixed wireless access saw a sharp 6.69 per cent monthly jump to 14.06 million, signalling growing traction for 5G FWA and similar services. Wired broadband, though slower, inched up to 45.11 million.
When it comes to market muscle, the top three players continued to dominate broadband. Reliance Jio led the pack with 510.52 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel at 314.26 million and Vodafone Idea at 127.75 million, together accounting for over 98 per cent of the broadband market.
A hefty 14.69 million subscribers sought Mobile Number Portability in November alone, highlighting the intense competition among operators. Uttar Pradesh (East) topped the charts in Zone I with 1.97 million requests, while Madhya Pradesh led Zone II at 1.40 million, showing that churn remains as strong in heartland circles as in metros.
Active usage remained robust too. Of the 1,173.88 million wireless mobile subscribers, 1,090.91 million were active on peak VLR days, translating into an activity ratio of nearly 93 per cent. Bharti Airtel recorded the highest proportion of active users at 98.81 per cent, while PSU operators continued to trail on this metric.
Machine-to-machine connections also surged, crossing the 100 million mark for the first time at 103.48 million, driven largely by enterprise adoption and IoT use cases. Airtel led this segment with over 60 per cent market share.
Put together, November’s data paints a picture of a telecom sector that may no longer be sprinting, but is certainly not standing still. With broadband now a billion-strong, porting requests piling up and new technologies nudging adoption beyond metros, India’s telecom networks ended 2025 very much still on the line and ringing.
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.
