Reliance Jio remained India’s largest broadband service provider at the end of September 2026, with 541.17 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel with 388.86 million and Vodafone Idea (Vi) with 131 million, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The figures cover wired and wireless broadband services, including mobile broadband. They therefore represent a much broader market than home fibre connections alone.
Jio, Airtel and Vi broadband subscriber base
TRAI’s September report places Jio well ahead of its private-sector rivals in total broadband subscriptions.
| Service provider | Broadband subscribers |
|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | 541.17 million |
| Bharti Airtel | 388.86 million |
| Vodafone Idea | 131.00 million |
| BSNL | 28.55 million |
Jio’s lead reflects its presence across mobile connectivity and fixed broadband services. Airtel also operates across both segments, while Vi’s broadband subscriber base is predominantly associated with wireless mobile access.
However, total broadband subscriptions should not be treated as a direct measure of home internet customers. The figures include mobile broadband connections used through smartphones and other devices.
Jio and Airtel in fixed broadband
The comparison changes when the focus shifts to fixed wired broadband, which includes fibre and other wired access technologies.
TRAI reported 14.92 million fixed wired broadband subscribers for Jio at the end of September. Airtel had 11.55 million, followed by BSNL with 4.59 million.
| Fixed wired broadband provider | Subscribers |
|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | 14.92 million |
| Bharti Airtel | 11.55 million |
| BSNL | 4.59 million |
This is a more relevant comparison for readers evaluating the operators’ fixed broadband businesses. Even here, the category is broader than fibre-to-the-home alone because TRAI includes several wired access technologies.
India’s broadband market continues to grow
India’s total broadband subscriber base increased from 1,101.21 million in August to 1,107.68 million in September, representing monthly growth of 0.59%.
Mobile wireless access remained the largest segment, with 1,039.09 million subscriptions. Fixed wireless access broadband reached 19.70 million, while wired broadband increased to 48.89 million.
These figures suggest that India’s broadband expansion continues to rely heavily on mobile networks, while wired and fixed wireless services serve different connectivity needs.
For consumers, the operator rankings offer useful market context, but subscriber totals alone do not establish which provider offers the best speed, reliability, coverage or value in a particular location. Those factors depend on local network availability and the plan selected.
TRAI’s monthly data will remain useful for tracking whether Jio and Airtel extend their lead in fixed broadband and how the wider broadband market develops over the coming months.
