Reliance Jio and Airtel Gain Ground; Vodafone Idea, BSNL Face Subscriber Decline in December

India’s telecom sector witnessed a shift in December 2024, as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel added mobile subscribers, while Vodafone Idea (VIL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) saw a decline, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Reliance Jio and Airtel Lead Subscriber Growth

The overall wireless subscriber base in the country rose by 20.1 lakh during the month, marking a recovery from November’s 17.7 lakh net loss.

Reliance Jio saw the highest growth, adding 39.1 lakh subscribers in December, a significant increase from 12.1 lakh additions in November. Airtel also saw a net gain of 10.3 lakh users, reversing its previous month’s loss of 11.4 lakh subscribers.

Vodafone Idea and BSNL See Declines

Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea’s subscriber loss widened to 17.2 lakh in December, compared to a 15 lakh decline in November. BSNL also experienced a decline, with its subscriber base falling to 3.11 crore from 3.26 crore in November.

Wireless Broadband Market Share

As of December 31, 2024, Jio continued to dominate the wireless broadband market, followed by Airtel, VIL, BSNL, and Intech Online.

• Jio’s subscriber base remained steady at 46.51 crore, maintaining its leadership position.
• Airtel’s subscriber base also held firm at 28.08 crore.
• VIL saw a slight increase to 12.64 crore from 12.48 crore in November.
• BSNL, however, saw its subscriber base fall further.
• Intech Online’s subscriber base remained unchanged at 2.5 lakh.

Share Price Performance

Vodafone Idea’s stock fell 4.50% to ₹7.01, at 10:25 AM on the NSE while Bharti Airtel’s share price traded 0.62% down at ₹1,652.65 on March 12.

Conclusion

The December telecom data underscores Jio and Airtel’s continued dominance, while Vodafone Idea and BSNL struggle to retain customers. With an overall increase in subscribers, the telecom sector appears to be stabilising after November’s decline.

However, the challenge for state-run operators and Vodafone Idea remains in retaining and attracting new users amid stiff competition from private players. The evolving trends in market share could shape future strategies and investments within the industry.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.