Public Wi-Fi usage in India declines by 42.5 percent
New data from India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority reveals a sharp drop in public Wi-Fi users and data consumption during the second quarter of 2026.
Public Wi-Fi engagement in India fell significantly during the April–June 2026 quarter, with user numbers dropping to 3 million from 5.21 million during the same period in 2025, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Beyond user headcount, data consumption via these public networks saw a 43.2 percent decline, falling to 7,541 TB. The downward trend has persisted throughout the year, with a 5.5 percent decrease in users noted between the first and second quarters of 2026 alone.
As of June 2026, India hosted 55,230 public Wi-Fi hotspots. While this represents a marginal 1.8 percent decrease since March, the figures remain largely stagnant compared to the previous year. Gujarat and Maharashtra currently account for the highest concentration of these access points.
The decline follows a period of industry consolidation, notably influenced by the surrender of service licenses by major providers such as CSC Wi-Fi Choupal Services. These regulatory and operational shifts continue to impact the availability and utilization of public internet infrastructure across the country.