TRAI Report: BSNL Leads in New Subscribers but Lags in Active Users Amid Network Challenges

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report for September 2026, state-run telecom operator BSNL has outperformed private players like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in monthly subscriber growth. However, data indicates significant challenges regarding active user retention and network service quality.

Subscriber Growth and Regional Trends

• BSNL registered a mobile base growth of 0.67% in September 2026, adding over 6.25 lakh new wireless connections and pushing its total mobile subscriber base past 9.42 crore.
• In comparison, other operators reported varying growth rates, with Vi at 0.28%, Jio at 0.53%, and Airtel at 0.55%.
• Circles such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka significantly contributed to BSNL's top position, with rural areas accounting for roughly 37.4% of the overall growth.

The Active User Dilemma

Despite leading in new connections, the report highlights a notable gap in active user percentages.

• TRAI figures indicate that roughly 54.46% of BSNL's total connections remain active on the network, leaving nearly 45% of SIM cards inactive or unused.
• Conversely, private operators maintain much higher active user percentages, with Airtel at 98.94%, Jio at 98.67%, and Vi at 83.85%.

Practical Implications and Verification

Industry observers note that while economical recharge tariffs attract users to BSNL, inconsistent service quality and the ongoing absence of a stable 4G network infrastructure hinder long-term retention. Experts suggest that improving network reliability is crucial for sustaining subscriber loyalty beyond initial onboarding.

Readers can verify these findings by accessing the official monthly performance reports published on the TRAI portal.