Bharti Airtel Surges Ahead in February Subscriber Growth Amidst Jio's Dominance
Airtel leads February subscriber gains; Jio retains wireless lead
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
In February 2026, Bharti Airtel added approximately 4.86 million wireless subscribers, leading the market, while Reliance Jio maintained its status as the largest operator with 493.11 million subscribers. The overall wireless subscriber base in India grew by 6.97 million to 1.273 billion.
- 01Bharti Airtel led in subscriber additions with 4.86 million new users.
- 02Reliance Jio remains the largest wireless operator with 493.11 million subscribers.
- 03Vodafone Idea's growth was stagnant, adding only 21,927 users.
- 04BSNL lost 101,824 subscribers, marking a continued decline.
- 05The total wireless subscriber base in India reached 1.273 billion.
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In February 2026, Bharti Airtel outperformed its competitors by adding approximately 4.86 million wireless subscribers, bringing its total to 472.65 million. Reliance Jio, while adding 1.62 million new users, retained its position as India's largest wireless operator with 493.11 million subscribers. Vodafone Idea experienced minimal growth, adding just 21,927 users, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) faced a decline, losing 101,824 subscribers. Overall, India's wireless subscriber base grew by 6.97 million to reach 1.273 billion, primarily driven by urban areas, which contributed 5.08 million new subscribers compared to 1.89 million in rural regions. The active wireless mobile subscriber count stood at 1.178 billion, reflecting an activity ratio of 93.66% of the total wireless base. Airtel had the highest activity ratio at 99.42%, followed by Jio at 98.35%.
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The growth in wireless subscribers suggests increased connectivity and competition in the telecom sector, potentially leading to better services and pricing for consumers.
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