India’s broadband user base crosses 100 crore after six-fold growth since 2014: All you need to know

Broadband subscribers in India have crossed the 100 crore mark, according to the latest data from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The data also shows that broadband subscribers in India increased by over six times, going from 131.49 million (13.15 crore) at the end of November 2015 to 1 billion (100.37 crore) at the end of November 2025.

Meanwhile, department of telecommunication (DoT) also recently shared a Year-End Review statement where it highlighted that 2025 was the year when major progress was achieved in teh fields of connectivity, digital infrastructure, citizen‑centric governance, and technological self‑reliance.

The DoT also stated that the National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0, which was launched on January 17, 2025, has played a pivotal role in propelling India into a new era of digital transformation.

The report also highlighted that the average monthly data consumption per wireless subscriber has increased by 399 times, reaching 24.01 GB in 2025, up from a mere 61.66 MB in March 2014. The DoT noted that this is "one of the highest in the world."

It also noted that the increased data consumption was also complimented by median mobile broadband download speed which grew from 10.71 Mbps in 2019 to an impressive 131.47 Mbps in October 2025

Similarly, the DoT while quoting data from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index notes that there has been a sharp increase in fixed broadband download speed from 29.25Mbps in 2019 to 60.34 Mbps in 2025.

The report also shows that there has been an increase in the Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network, which grew from 19.35 lakh route km in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route km in September, 2025.

It also highlighted the growth in telephone connections which rose from 933 million in March 2014 to 1228.94 million in September 2025. Meanwhile, there was also a narrowing in digital divide so to say, with the rural telephone connections rising by 42.9%, rising from 377.78 million in March 2014 to 539.83 million in September 2025, a growth rate nearly double that of urban areas.

The department also went on to highlight that there has been a decrease in average mobile data cost (per GB) which went down from $0.16 last year to $0.10 in 2025.

Meanwhile, DoT on Tuesday had also released the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 for the management and allocation of radio-frequency spectrum in India.

The new plan is aimed at ensuring that the spectrum management in the country ‘responsive, high-capacity, and harmonised with global standards’, it said.