Archive · 5 Oct 2026
India Internet Subscribers Top 1.09 Billion as Data Use Surges
India had more than 1.09 billion internet subscribers by the end of FY26.
That was more than the year before.
Most of those subscribers used broadband.
People also used much more wireless data, with total usage rising nearly 25%.
The average subscriber used 25.51 GB of wireless data each month.
The average monthly revenue earned per wireless user increased too.
India had 1.33 billion telephone subscriptions.
The report also said telephone access grew in both cities and rural areas.
India had 1.09 billion internet subscribers at the end of FY26, up 12.76% from a year earlier.
Broadband subscribers reached 1.066 billion, while narrowband subscribers totaled 26.91 million.
Wireless data usage rose 24.74% to 285,376 petabytes, and monthly use per subscriber reached 25.51 GB.
Monthly wireless ARPU increased to Rs 180.73, while wireless data service revenue rose 11.53% to Rs 2.39 lakh crore.
Telephone subscriptions reached 1.33 billion, and overall tele-density rose to 93.26%.
- Who
- India's telecom sector and its internet and telephone subscribers.
- What
- Internet and telephone subscriptions, wireless data use, and wireless revenue increased in FY26.
- When
- By March 31, 2026; the report was described as released on Monday, October 5.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The article reports the growth but does not state a specific cause.
- Internet subscribers
- 1.09 billion at March 31, 2026, up 12.76% year-on-year.
- Broadband subscribers
- 1.066 billion, up 12.9% during the year.
- Wireless data usage
- 285,376 petabytes, up 24.74% year-on-year.
- Monthly data use per subscriber
- 25.51 GB, compared with 21.53 GB a year earlier.
- Wireless ARPU
- Rs 180.73 per month, up from Rs 174.46.
- Telephone subscriptions
- 1.33 billion at the end of March 2026.
- Overall tele-density
- 93.26%, compared with 85.04% a year earlier.