India’s telecom landscape sees Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel expanding their subscriber bases in January 2024, while Vi experiences a decline in subscribers.

Vi Faces Subscriber Loss

Vi, the telecom operator yet to introduce 5G services, reports a loss of 1.52 million subscribers in January 2024, following a previous decline of 1.38 million in December 2023. State-run BSNL also observes a decrease of 1.18 million subscribers during the same period.

Reliance Jio’s Surge in Subscribers

Despite overall industry losses, Reliance Jio, led by Mukesh Ambani, adds a significant 4.18 million subscribers in January 2024, boosting its total subscriber base to 463.99 million. The company maintains an active subscriber ratio of 91.73%.

Airtel’s Increment in Subscriber Count

Airtel, under Sunil Mittal’s leadership, sees an increase of 0.75 million subscribers, elevating its total base to 382.48 million in January 2024. Airtel boasts the highest proportion of active subscribers at 99.64%.

Vi and BSNL Witness Decrease

Vi’s subscriber base reduces to 221.53 million users, with only 193.96 million active subscribers, reflecting an active subscriber ratio of 88.01%. BSNL’s subscriber count declines to 90.59 million.

Mobile Number Portability Requests

Mobile number portability records 12.36 million requests in January 2024, indicating users’ willingness to switch between operators. Since its inception in November 2010, the total MNP requests reach 939.55 million.

Vi’s 5G Rollout Plans

Vi aims to introduce 5G services in India within six months, contingent upon securing funding. Additionally, Vi plans to phase out its 3G services by FY25, reallocating spectrum for enhanced 4G services.

In summary, while Vi faces challenges with subscriber losses and delayed 5G rollout, Reliance Jio and Airtel continue to strengthen their positions in the Indian telecom sector, reflecting dynamic shifts in market dynamics and consumer preferences.