In a surprising turn of events, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) emerged as the only major telecom operator to add new subscribers in July 2024. According to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), BSNL added over 29.4 lakh mobile subscribers, while major private players—Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea—saw a significant decline in their customer base.
The reduction in subscribers across private telecom companies comes after they increased their service charges by 10-27% in early July. This price hike has had a direct impact on the number of customers opting for their services, particularly affecting low-budget users.
BSNL Sees Subscriber Growth, Private Players Struggle
The TRAI report highlights a major shift in consumer preference, with BSNL benefiting from the customer migration away from more expensive private operators. While BSNL gained nearly 29.4 lakh new subscribers in July, Bharti Airtel suffered the most with a loss of 16.9 lakh customers. Vodafone Idea (VI) and Reliance Jio followed, losing 14.1 lakh and 7.58 lakh subscribers, respectively.
This overall reduction in private telecom users led to a minor decline in the country’s total telecom subscriber base, which dropped to 120.51 crore in July, compared to 120.56 crore in June.
Rising Mobile Service Charges Hurt Private Operators
A major factor behind this subscriber loss for private telecom giants is the rise in mobile service charges. Over the past two to three years, Airtel and Vodafone Idea have significantly increased their entry-level mobile plan rates, with some basic plans now starting at ₹199 for 28 days. The price hikes have been difficult for budget-conscious users, pushing many towards more affordable options like BSNL.
This shift in consumer behavior was particularly evident in several telecom circles, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, where a significant drop in mobile subscribers was recorded in July.
Fixed Line Segment Sees Growth, Jio Leads
While mobile services saw a dip in users, the fixed-line segment experienced a boost, growing by nearly 1% to 3.55 crore users in July. Reliance Jio continued to dominate this space, adding 4.80 lakh new subscribers, followed by Airtel, which added 1.36 lakh fixed-line users. However, BSNL struggled in this segment, losing over 1.34 lakh fixed-line customers.
Broadband Market Grows Steadily
On the broadband front, India’s user base saw a rise in July, growing to 94.61 crore subscribers from 94.07 crore in June. Reliance Jio, Airtel, and other leading players contributed to this growth, making up 98.42% of the country’s total broadband connections.
This shift in the telecom landscape highlights how affordability and rising mobile tariffs are reshaping customer preferences in India’s competitive telecom sector.
