Striking Growth Amidst Industry Dynamics
Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, witnessed a remarkable surge by adding 3.98 million 4G/5G users in November, marking its highest growth in 27 months, as reported by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Out of its 379.8 million subscribers, the wireless broadband segment, primarily comprising 4G users, reached 255.07 million by the end of November, showcasing substantial growth compared to October’s 251.1 million.
Industry Context and Shifting Dynamics
The upswing in 4G additions is attributed to overall industry subscriber growth and a notable shift from 2G to 4G/5G, reflecting a transition from feature phones to smartphones.
Active Subscriber Trends
Despite the positive 4G momentum, Airtel faced a second consecutive month of active subscriber loss in November, with a decline of 432,941 subscribers, bringing the active subscriber count to 374.52 million. The previous month saw a dip of 1.2 million active subscribers, considered a one-time occurrence without fundamental concerns.
Competitive Landscape
Airtel’s overall subscriber base increased by 1.7 million in November, reaching a total of 379.8 million, encompassing 2G services. Market leader Jio continued its lead in subscriber additions, acquiring 3.45 million subscribers during November, with a total base of 455.81 million. Vodafone Idea added 0.96 million 4G subscribers, narrowing losses from the previous month, but reported a decline in overall net mobile additions.
Market Share Dynamics
Trai data revealed slight shifts in market shares, with Airtel’s share rising to 32.91%, Jio’s to 39.49%, and Vodafone Idea’s falling to 19.44%. BSNL observed a decline in market share to 7.98%.
Active Subscriber Base and Market Presence
The active subscriber base increased by 468,150 in November, reaching 90.62% of the total 1.154 billion subscribers. Vodafone Idea added 133,035 active subscribers, while Jio contributed 1.2 million active users.
Overall Industry Growth
The industry observed a substantial rise of nearly 3.2 million subscribers, the highest increase in 2.5 years. In the 4G segment, the three major telecom operators collectively added 8.4 million subscribers, reaching a total of 837.52 million 4G users in the country.
BSNL’s Continuing Challenges
BSNL faced its 23rd consecutive month of subscriber loss, with a decline of 938,846 active subscribers, bringing its total base to 91.9 million.
In conclusion, Airtel’s robust 4G/5G growth in November, despite active subscriber challenges, reflects dynamic industry trends and the evolving landscape of mobile connectivity in India. The competitive scenario and user preferences are likely to shape further developments in the telecom sector.
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