Bharti Airtel had 88.58 million machine-to-machine (M2M) cellular connections at the end of September 2026, accounting for 61.16% of India’s reported M2M base, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The number of M2M cellular connections across operators increased from 140.50 million in August to 144.85 million in September. These connections are used by devices and equipment to exchange data over mobile networks, rather than serving only conventional person-to-person mobile communication.
Airtel leads the M2M segment
TRAI’s September report identifies Airtel as the largest operator in the M2M cellular segment.
| Operator | Share of M2M connections |
|---|---|
| Bharti Airtel | 61.16% |
| Reliance Jio | 19.29% |
| Vodafone Idea | 16.14% |
| BSNL | 3.41% |
Airtel’s share was more than three times Jio’s reported share. The distribution highlights the importance of connectivity beyond consumer smartphones, including devices that need persistent mobile-network access.
The report provides operator market shares for M2M connections. These figures should not be confused with the operators’ consumer mobile subscriber market shares.
What are M2M cellular connections?
M2M connectivity enables devices to send and receive information with limited direct human involvement. Examples can include connected meters, vehicle-tracking equipment, industrial monitoring devices, payment terminals and other connected systems, depending on the deployment.
Businesses use such connections to monitor equipment, collect readings, track assets and support automated operations. The number of connections can therefore grow as organisations connect more devices to mobile networks.
M2M subscriptions are different from consumer SIMs. A company may deploy multiple connected devices, while an individual consumer may use one or more mobile connections. Subscriber counts alone do not reveal the number of people or businesses using a network.
India’s M2M base grows by 4.35 million
TRAI reported that M2M cellular connections increased by 4.35 million during September, reaching 144.85 million from 140.50 million in August.
The increase contributed to the growth in India’s overall telecom connection base. Total telephone subscriptions rose by 7.23 million during the month to 1,367.93 million.
However, the overall total includes consumer SIMs, M2M SIMs, fixed wireless access connections and wireline subscriptions. It should not be read as an equivalent increase in individual mobile customers.
TRAI separately reported 1,155.15 million consumer SIM connections at the end of September, excluding M2M cellular connections from the wireless mobile figure.
Why the M2M trend matters
M2M connectivity is an important part of the wider telecom market because connected devices can require different service characteristics from ordinary smartphone users. Businesses may prioritise coverage, reliable device connectivity, fleet management, security and long-term service arrangements.
A rising connection count indicates a larger installed base of connected devices, but it does not by itself establish revenue growth, profitability or the number of active devices. Those outcomes depend on usage, pricing and the type of deployments.
The next TRAI reports will show whether the M2M base continues to expand and whether the operator distribution changes. For now, the September data establishes Airtel’s leading position in India’s reported M2M cellular connections, with Jio, Vi and BSNL accounting for the remainder of the reported market shares.
