The additions come as a relief to incumbent operators, which are trying to retain users amid competition from Reliance Jio, which launched commercial services on September 5. However, COAI did not report the numbers of BSNL, Reliance Jio, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices.
"The telecom industry saw addition of 2.09 mn subscribers across different networks in August," COAI said. The number for July stood at 779.05 mn.
Rajan S Mathews, director general, COAI, said the increase indicated the continued upward trend for the sector, as it continued to add more consumers every month.
"With more investments and increased coverage, this will continue to swell with each passing month."
Among operators, Airtel continues to lead, adding 700,000 subscribers to its network, taking its total to around 257 mn. Vodafone added 480,000, taking its base to about 200 mn and Idea Cellular with 410,000 additions has a base of 177 mn. Aircel added 370,000 subscribers, whereas Telenor added 110,000 in the month.
You’ve reached your limit of 5 free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories
Over 30 subscriber-only stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app