Jio Adds Nearly 10 Times More Core Mobile Subscribers Than Airtel in September
New Delhi, October 30, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): Reliance Jio added nearly 10 times more core mobile subscribers than Bharti Airtel in September, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The figures show that Jio accounted for most of the growth in India’s regular mobile subscriber base, while Airtel recorded a comparatively modest increase.
According to analyst reports, India’s core mobile subscriber base, excluding machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, increased by 2.2 million month-on-month to around 1.15 billion in September.
Jio added 1.9 million core mobile subscribers during the month, compared with Airtel’s 0.2 million. This means Jio’s additions were nearly 10 times higher than Airtel’s.
At the end of September, Jio had 511.14 million core mobile subscribers, ahead of Airtel’s 494.29 million.
Airtel’s Subscriber Growth Slows
Airtel’s addition of 0.2 million core mobile subscribers was its lowest monthly increase in recent months. Analysts have linked the slowdown to the withdrawal of its affordable ₹299 prepaid plan in August, which may have affected its ability to attract and retain price-sensitive customers.
Airtel recorded 2.69 million gross wireless subscriber additions. However, its much smaller increase in core mobile subscribers indicates that a significant share of its overall additions may have come from M2M connections rather than regular mobile users.
Jio Gains Active Subscribers While Airtel Records a Decline
The active subscriber figures also highlighted the difference between the two operators.
The industry’s core Visitor Location Register (VLR) subscriber base increased by 0.6 million in September. Jio alone added 1.3 million active subscribers during the month.
In contrast, Airtel lost 0.2 million active subscribers, while Vodafone Idea recorded a decline of 0.3 million.
The figures indicate that Jio expanded its active user base even as the overall industry recorded a comparatively smaller increase.
Jio Accounts for Most of September’s Subscriber Growth
September’s TRAI data shows that Jio maintained its lead over Airtel in both total core mobile subscribers and monthly additions.
Jio added nearly nine out of every 10 core mobile subscribers gained by the industry during the month. Airtel, meanwhile, faces the challenge of improving its regular mobile subscriber growth following the withdrawal of its ₹299 prepaid plan.
The latest figures underline the contrasting subscriber trends of India’s two largest private telecom operators.
FAQs
1. How many mobile subscribers did Jio add in September 2026?
Jio added 1.9 million core mobile subscribers in September, according to the reported TRAI data.
2. How many core mobile subscribers did Airtel add in September?
Airtel added around 0.2 million core mobile subscribers during the month.
3. How much higher were Jio’s additions compared with Airtel’s?
Jio added nearly 10 times more core mobile subscribers than Airtel.
4. What was Jio’s total core mobile subscriber base in September?
Jio had 511.14 million core mobile subscribers at the end of September.
5. How many core mobile subscribers did Airtel have?
Airtel’s core mobile subscriber base stood at 494.29 million.
6. Why did Airtel’s subscriber growth slow down?
Analysts attributed the slowdown partly to the discontinuation of Airtel’s ₹299 prepaid plan in August.
7. What happened to active subscribers in September?
Jio added 1.3 million active subscribers, while Airtel lost 0.2 million and Vodafone Idea lost 0.3 million.
8. What does VLR mean in telecom subscriber data?
Visitor Location Register (VLR) data is used to track active mobile subscribers who have recently connected to a mobile network.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.