Jio strengthens market leadership with 3.25 mn new subscribers, Vi’s decline slows

• Reliance Jio and Airtel have reported an increase in subscribers in August 2023.
• Jio has reported the highest increase in subscribers in August 2023.
• While Jio’s active subscribers have increased, Airtel and Vi have reported a decline.

Indian telecom operators Reliance Jio and Airtel have once gained subscribers in August 2023, continuing to increase their subscriber base. Jio has recorded the highest increase in subscribers, followed by Airtel, while Vi reported a decline.

In the month of August 2023, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio emerged as the biggest winner, gaining 3.25 million subscribers. Airtel on the other hand gained 1.22 million subscribers. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) also reported a decline of 2.23 million subscribers.

The total net additions in the industry were 2.19 million, down from 2.7 million users in July 2023. With this, the total subscriber base surged to 1,148.43 million and the active subscriber base surged to 1043.38.

Jio continues to lead the industry

Reliance Jio continues to lead the industry with the highest subscriber base, registering an increase of 3.25 million subscribers in August 2023. With this, the company’s total subscriber base has increased from 442.49 million to 444.73 million users, further strengthening its position in the industry.

Airtel on the other hand has added 1.22 million subscribers, taking its subscriber base from 375.24 million to 376.46 million users.

Vi on the other hand has reported a slight decline in subscribers, losing 49,782 users. This might come as a relief to the telco as it had lost 1.32 million subscribers in July 2023.

Active subscribers decline

While there was a net addition in subscribers, the active subscriber base declined by 3 million, the highest in nine months. According to global brokerage Jefferies, this is only the second time that the sector’s active subscriber base has declined.

Even in this, Jio has fared better when compared to other telcos. The company gained 1.2 million active subscribers, while Airtel lost 0.4 million and Vi lost 2.9 million subscribers. Vi’s decline of 2.9 million active subscribers was the biggest in 16 months.

MNP requests reach a 29-month high

Amid increased competition between telcos, mobile number portability (MNP) requests have reached a 29-month high.

“We expect MNP requests to stay elevated partly due to Vi users porting out to experience 5G on Airtel and Jio. Rising MNP could also be a result of rising competition between Jio and Airtel for 5G subscribers and Airtel’s rural foray,” said a Jefferies report.

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