Shangliao Sun
Research expert covering India
Mobile communications in India - statistics & facts
The telecommunication market across India was the second largest in the world. The subscriber base was close to 1.16 billion at the end of 2023. Strong consumer demand and favorable policies from the Indian government played an instrumental role in the growth of the industry. The first commercial mobile phone service in India was launched by Modi Group along with the Australian telecom giant, Telstra. Because of the high call rates per minute, only the top income earners were able to use mobile phones back then. However, since the 1990’s, mobile communication in India has become more and more popular, and the services provided went beyond just texting and calling.
Mobile devices
With a variety of smartphones and internet packages flooding the market, mobile communication became an integral part of everyday life. The smartphone industry in India saw a steady growth over the years, around 146 million units of smartphones were sold in the country in 2023. Xiaomi and Samsung rank prominently as leading smartphone brands in India, drawing significant consumer interest. Additionally, the iPhone has witnessed a growing popularity in the country, fueled by increasing purchasing power.Service providers and usage
Various private operators have taken over the wireless market, leading to a fierce competition for the leading position in the mobile service market, mostly among Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, with Reliance Jio leading the market. Initiatives such as “Digital India” and “Make in India” also provided huge employment opportunities in the mobile manufacturing industry in the country since 2014. It was expected that 3G would be phased out before the end of the decade or sooner, and by the end of 2029, around 790 million of mobile subscriptions would be with 5G technology.5G in India
As of November 2024, there were two telecom providers offering 5G services in India: Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Jio was the first to introduce 5G services, beginning at the end of 2022. And the other major telecom provider, Vodafone Idea, expects to provide 5G services by March 2025. By September 2024, the 5G network has covered 97 percent of cities and 80 percent of the country's population. However, the majority of smartphone owners in India did not have 5G-enabled devices. The added expenses associated with upgrading to a new phone and subscribing to a 5G tariff might slow down the adoption of 5G by consumers.
