India records growth in internet subscriptions during second quarter of 2026
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India data shows urban internet subscriptions reached 666 million while rural areas recorded 448 million by June 2026.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released performance data indicating a widening divide between urban and rural internet access. As of June 2026, urban areas accounted for 666.09 million internet subscriptions, while rural regions recorded 448.08 million.
Urban growth outpaced rural expansion during the second quarter, with urban areas adding 14.16 million subscriptions compared to 7.21 million in rural districts. The gap between the two sectors now stands at over 218 million subscriptions, reflecting persistent disparities in digital infrastructure adoption.
It is notable that recent figures reflect administrative changes, such as the reclassification of machine-to-machine (M2M) SIMs by Bharti Airtel. When normalized by population density, urban centers report 129 subscriptions per 100 people, whereas rural areas report 49. TRAI clarifies that these metrics track active subscriptions rather than the total count of unique individuals with online access.