India's digital appetite keeps growing. The country had 1,114.17 million internet subscribers at the end of June 2026, up from 1,092.79 million at the end of March, according to the latest TRAI report, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report for April to June 2026, released on Monday, October 12. At the same time, the average mobile data user is now burning through more than 28 GB every month.
The Big Numbers at a Glance
| Indicator (end of June 2026) | Value |
|---|---|
| Total internet subscribers | 1,114.17 million |
| Broadband subscribers | 1,087.50 million |
| Wireless internet subscribers | 1,066.43 million |
| Wired internet subscribers | 47.73 million |
| Total telephone subscribers | 1,348.08 million |
| Overall tele-density | 94.31% |
| Average mobile data use per user | 28.39 GB per month |
| Wireless ARPU (monthly) | Rs 187.12 |
| Revenue per GB of wireless data | Rs 7.13 |
| Telecom sector gross revenue (quarter) | Rs 1,06,797 crore |
Internet: Nearly All Growth Is on Mobile
About 21 million new internet subscriptions were added in the quarter, a growth of roughly 2%. Wireless connections dominate completely, with 1,066 million of the 1,114 million internet subscribers on mobile or wireless networks. Broadband subscribers rose 2.03% to 1,087.50 million, while narrowband connections slipped slightly to 26.67 million as older 2G-era users move up.
Data Use Keeps Climbing
The most striking number is data consumption. Average wireless data use per subscriber rose from 26.70 GB a month in the January-March quarter to 28.39 GB in April-June, a jump of 6.32%. Total mobile data traffic in the quarter grew 8.30% to 84,424 petabytes.
That is the equivalent of nearly a gigabyte a day for the typical user, driven by short videos, OTT streaming, live cricket and the steady spread of 5G handsets.
Cheaper Data, Higher Bills?
Interestingly, data got cheaper per unit even as operators earned more per user. The average revenue realised per GB of wireless data fell 5.07%, from Rs 7.51 to Rs 7.13. But the monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services rose 1.19% to Rs 187.12, and was up 3.11% from a year earlier.
In simple terms, people are paying a little more each month, but getting far more data for it. Prepaid users had a monthly ARPU of Rs 200.72, while postpaid ARPU stood at Rs 114.26, according to the report.
Voice calling, meanwhile, dipped slightly. Average minutes of usage per user per month fell 2.65% from 959 to 933, as more conversations shift to apps and video calls.
Phone Connections and Tele-density
Total telephone subscribers rose to 1,348.08 million, a growth of 1.31% over the quarter and 10.65% over the year. Overall tele-density climbed from 93.26% to 94.31%.
The urban-rural gap remains wide, though. Urban tele-density stood at 153.43%, reflecting many people with more than one SIM, while rural tele-density was only 60.89%. Rural subscribers numbered 556.01 million, and their share in total connections dipped slightly to 41.24%.
Telecom Revenues
The sector's gross revenue for the quarter was Rs 1,06,797 crore, and adjusted gross revenue (the figure on which licence fees are calculated) was Rs 88,796 crore. Year-on-year, gross revenue grew 10.50%. Access services, which are basically mobile and fixed-line connections, made up 83.85% of the sector's adjusted gross revenue.
Service Quality Benchmarks
TRAI also said that several quality-of-service benchmarks were fully met by all wireless providers in every licensed service area during the quarter. These include network latency of 75 milliseconds or less on 4G and 5G networks, a packet drop rate of 3% or less, call set-up success rates and timelines for resolving billing complaints. For users, these benchmarks are the rules that decide how quickly complaints must be fixed and refunds processed.
What It Means for You
- More data, same price band: Falling revenue per GB shows data is still getting cheaper per unit, even though monthly plan prices have crept up.
- Rural India is the next frontier: With rural tele-density at about 61%, the next wave of growth for operators lies in villages.
- Fixed broadband lags: Wired internet is still under 48 million connections, so most Indians remain mobile-first for internet access.
What Happens Next
TRAI publishes these performance indicators every quarter, and the July-September 2026 numbers will show how festive-season data use and new tariff moves affected the market. With satellite internet services preparing to enter India and 6G research picking up, the next few reports will be closely watched by users and the industry alike.
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