The dominance of giant telecom companies Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea is present. However, the country’s largest telecom company in terms of userbase is Reliance Jio. After this comes Bharti Airtel. However, Airtel has left Jio behind in terms of revenue.
Jio left Airtel behind
Airtel has overtaken Jio in revenue market share in the second quarter of financial year 2025. Let us tell you that Airtel had increased the price of recharge plan in July 2024. If we talk about tariff increase, there was an increase in mobile broadband, postpaid and prepaid recharge plans. Airtel had made the biggest increase in this. After this Jio had increased the price of recharge plan.
Strong increase in Airtel’s earnings
According to company data, Bharti Airtel’s revenue market share has registered an increase of 90 basis points in the second quarter of financial year 2025. At the same time, a decline of 45 bps has been recorded in the basis point of Jio. Jio’s revenue market share has declined by 43.5 percent and Vodafone-Idea’s RMS has declined by 16 percent.
Impact of tariff increase visible
The impact of mobile tariff increase is clearly visible on earnings. In the second quarter of financial year 2024, Airtel has left Jio behind in terms of revenue sharing. However, the disadvantage of the increase in tariff is that there has been a decline in the user base of Jio and Vodafone Idea.
How many Airtel users increased?
Talking about the last quarter of September, Airtel got the support of 4.2 million new 4G users, whereas during the same period, 10.9 million users distanced themselves from Jio. The user base of Vodafone-Idea has registered a decline of 5.1 million.
Users decreased but earnings increased
According to the TRAI report, after the recharge plans of Jio Airtel and Vodafone Idea became expensive in July 2024, there has been a decline in the userbase of all three telecom operators. However, Jio and Airtel have benefited in terms of earnings.
What are the key factors driving competition in India’s telecom market?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Telecom Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have an expert in telecommunications, Dr. Riya Kapoor, joining us to discuss the current trends in the Indian telecom market. Dr. Kapoor, thank you for being here.
Dr. Kapoor: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss such a dynamic industry.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. We know that Reliance Jio has been the dominant player in terms of user base for quite some time. What factors do you think contributed to Jio’s initial success?
Dr. Kapoor: Jio’s success can be attributed to several factors, including aggressive pricing strategies, the rollout of its 4G network ahead of competitors, and an extensive promotion of digital services. When they launched, they offered free data and voice services, which effectively disrupted the telecom market and attracted a massive customer base.
Editor: It’s interesting that despite its vast user base, Jio has now been overtaken by Bharti Airtel in revenue market share. What do you think caused this shift?
Dr. Kapoor: This shift is significant. Airtel’s recent increase in recharge plan prices played a crucial role here. Higher ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) can lead to improved revenue even if the user base is slightly lower. Airtel’s strategic pricing moves have allowed them to generate more revenue, and they’ve focused on enhancing service quality and customer experience, which also contributes to customer retention and revenue.
Editor: So, is this an indicator that users might value service quality over just low prices?
Dr. Kapoor: Absolutely. While Jio’s initial appeal was mainly its low-cost offerings, as the market matures, customers are becoming more discerning. They want reliable service, better customer support, and additional features. Airtel’s move appears to be addressing this shifting consumer sentiment.
Editor: Looking ahead, how do you see the competition evolving between these telecom giants?
Dr. Kapoor: The competition will likely intensify as both companies innovate and expand their service offerings. We might see more focus on 5G services, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and bundled services such as content streaming to attract customers. Additionally, external factors like government regulations and infrastructure developments will also play a part in shaping this competition.
Editor: With so much happening in the telecom sector, how do you think the consumer will be impacted moving forward?
Dr. Kapoor: Consumers can expect a more tailored experience with competitive pricing compared to the past. As companies vie for market leadership, we should see improvements in service quality, coverage, and customer engagement. However, there is a possibility of price hikes, so consumers need to stay informed and choose plans that best meet their needs.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Kapoor, for your insights into this rapidly evolving market. It’s an exciting time for telecom consumers!
Dr. Kapoor: Thank you! It’s indeed an exciting time, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for the Indian telecom industry.
Editor: And thank you to our viewers for joining us. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest in telecommunications and how it affects you!