Within just three years of starting commercial operations, Reliance Jio has reportedly become the largest telecom service provider in India by subscriber count. According to PTI, data released by Reliance Industries last week shows Jio ended June with an user base of 331.3 million, which is higher than both its closest competitors, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
Reliance Jio had become the second-largest telecom company in India at the end of Q1 2019 according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) earlier this month. As per TRAI, the Mukesh Ambani-led firm went past Airtel last May after adding 8.2 million users during the month, while both Airtel and Vodafone Idea both saw a decline in their subscriber count.
As per TRAI, Jio ended May with 322.98 million users as against Airtel’s 320.38 million. While the telecom regulator also reported 387.55 million subscribers for Vodafone Idea at the end of Q1, the company last week reported a decline in its customer base to 320 million since then.
Reliance Jio has been a massive disruptive force in the Indian telecom sector ever since it launched its commercial service back in 2016. With affordable plans, fast 4G connections and high data allocations, the company has built up a loyal customer base across the country over the years.
The company’s aggressive pricing strategy has not only brought fast internet connectivity and true unlimited voice-calls to tens of millions of people around the country, but has also forced other operators to reduce their prices to more affordable levels. While the larger operators have been able to withstand the onslaught, most smaller carriers were forced to either shut shop or get acquired by their larger competitors.
