According to techArc’s analysis of TRAI data, 2018 observed the lowest growth in broadband segment (44.7 per cent) in the past five years. In contrast, 2016 had the maximum growth in broadband subscribers at 73 per cent, while 2017 saw a growth of 54 per cent. The slow growth in 2018 has been primarily attributed to the inability to add new broadband subscribers at the entry segments and the slow progress in government initiatives including BharatNet, which have obstructed the data revolution from reaching masses.

The report highlighted that while the BharatNet programme has a target of providing broadband connectivity to 250,000 gram panchayats (GPs) by 2019, the infrastructure had been planned for 105,000 GPs only as of December 31, 2018. In addition, Wi-Fi systems had been installed in 39,379 GPs, and out of which only 11,134 GPs were made operational.

At present, there are 525 million broadband subscribers in total, out of which over 97 per cent of broadband users come from wireless segment. Given this, fixed broadband user count is declining at an average rate of 0.5 per cent per month.