Telecom Operators Lose Active Wireless Users in November 2024: TRAI Report
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its telecom subscription report for November 2024, revealing a concerning trend for the industry. Every telecom operator witnessed a decline in their active wireless user base, marking a challenging period for the sector. Even Reliance Jio, which added users to its overall subscriber base, recorded a drop in active users.
The decline is attributed to factors such as customers deactivating SIM cards or telecom operators shutting down inactive connections. Letโs delve into the numbers to understand the scale of this drop.
Active Wireless Users: November 2024 Figures
Bharti Airtel
- October 2024: 383.40 million
- November 2024: 380.37 million
- Loss: 3.03 million active users
Reliance Jio
- October 2024: 448.33 million
- November 2024: 447.20 million
- Loss: 1.13 million active users
Vodafone Idea (Vi)
- October 2024: 178.80 million
- November 2024: 176.90 million
- Loss: 1.90 million active users
BSNL
- October 2024: 55.72 million
- November 2024: 55.67 million
- Loss: 0.05 million active users
Market Standing: End of November 2024
At the close of November 2024, hereโs where the active user base of the major telecom operators stood:
- Reliance Jio: 447.20 million
- Bharti Airtel: 380.37 million
- Vodafone Idea: 176.90 million
- BSNL: 55.67 million
Key Takeaways
- Reliance Jio Leads: Despite losing 1.13 million active users, Jio maintains a commanding lead with 447.20 million active users, significantly ahead of its competitors.
- Airtel in Second Place: Bharti Airtel recorded the largest loss in active users, shedding 3.03 million, but it remains a strong player with 380.37 million active users.
- Vodafone Idea Struggles: Vi lost 1.90 million active users, reducing its active user base to 176.90 million, further widening the gap with Airtel and Jio.
- BSNL Faces Marginal Decline: The state-run operator saw a minor drop of 0.05 million active users, ending November with 55.67 million active users.
Challenges and Opportunities
The telecom industry faces challenges in retaining active users, but there are opportunities to regain momentum:
- Reliance Jio and Airtel: As the top players, these companies dominate the market. Their aggressive 5G rollout strategies and superior network quality could help them retain and grow their active user base.
- Vodafone Ideaโs Road Ahead: Viโs recent funding and government support provide hope for strengthening its 4G networks, which could help it compete more effectively with Jio and Airtel.
- BSNLโs Position: While BSNLโs active user base is modest compared to private operators, its continued focus on modernization and 4G rollout might help it stabilize its numbers.
Telecom Operators Lose Active Wireless Users in November 2024: TRAI Report
