According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report for June, Reliance Jio has once again dominated the telecom market by adding 19.1 lakh new subscribers.
Airtel followed closely, securing the second spot with 12.5 lakh new connections. Together, Jio and Airtel have welcomed over 30 lakh new customers, solidifying their positions as industry leaders.
Subscriber Losses for Vodafone-Idea and BSNL
While Jio and Airtel are celebrating their gains, Vodafone-Idea (Vi) and BSNL are facing significant challenges. In June, Vi lost 8.6 lakh subscribers, and BSNL saw a decline of 7.45 lakh users.
The ongoing decline in Vi’s customer base is partly attributed to its delay in launching 5G services, which has led to dissatisfaction among its users.
BSNL also experienced a similar downturn, with its total subscribers now standing at 8.558 crore.
Future Prospects for BSNL
Despite the losses, BSNL might see a positive shift in July. With the recent increase in mobile recharge prices, a noticeable number of users have ported their numbers to BSNL, indicating potential growth in the upcoming months.
Overall Growth in Telecom Subscribers
The TRAI report also highlights a slight increase of 0.16 percent in the overall number of mobile subscribers across the country.
As of June, India had 120.6 crore mobile users. Reliance Jio’s total subscribers rose from 47.462 crore in May to 47.653 crore in June, with an active subscriber base of 44.94 crore, representing 92.53 percent of its total users.
Airtel, with 38.902 crore customers, boasts an impressive active user percentage of 98.92, placing it ahead of Jio in terms of active user base.
Impact of 5G on Vi’s Decline
Vodafone-Idea’s failure to launch 5G services seems to be a significant factor contributing to its subscriber loss.
The company’s subscriber count dropped from 21.816 crore to 21.730 crore in June, with an active user base of 18.826 crore, which is 86.64 percent of its total subscribers.
The increasing trend of mobile number portability requests suggests that customers are seeking better services elsewhere.
As the telecom landscape evolves, Jio and Airtel continue to attract new users, while Vi and BSNL face challenges in retaining their customer base.
The upcoming months will be crucial for these companies as they navigate the competitive market.
