Page 32 - SAMENA ELITE - June-September 2025

INDUSTRY UPDATES
32 JUN-SEP 2025

Fixed broadband subscriptions also for robust and scalable connectivity the European Union, have fixed broad-
continue to increase. Total subscrip- solutions, particularly those leveraging band penetration rates close to the
tions across OECD countries reached 5G and next-generation networks. OECD average (i.e. 36 subscriptions
504 million by June 2024, translating per 100 inhabitants). For instance,
to an average of 36.3 subscriptions Machine-to-machine (M2M) con- Bulgaria has 40 subscriptions per 100
per 100 inhabitants. France leads in nections are once again seeing very inhabitants, followed by Romania (35)
fixed broadband penetration with high growth rates. M2M SIM cards rose and Croatia (29). In terms of mobile
47.5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by 14% in just one year, continuing a broadband, Croatia has 144 subscrip-
closely followed by Korea (47.3), Swit- strong upward trend. Sweden and tions per 100 inhabitants, followed by
zerland (46.8), and Norway (46.4). Austria remain the frontrunners, with Thailand (120), Romania (112) and
267 and 233 M2M SIMs per 100 inhab- Bulgaria (111.5), which compares to an
As the demand for high-quality itants, respectively. They are followed OECD average of 138. The trend is
networks expands in OECD countries, by Iceland (109), the Netherlands (99), somewhat different for the share of
consequently, mobile data usage and Germany (96). The particularly fibre in total fixed broadband sub-
continues to grow at a rapid pace. high figures in Sweden, Austria and scriptions, with percentages above
Average monthly data consumption Iceland are mainly due to domestic the OECD average (i.e. 44.6%) for Brazil
per mobile broadband subscription operators registering M2M SIM cards (75.6%), Peru (74%), and Bulgaria
in OECD countries increased by 65% for international use. (60%), with Croatia being below the
in just one year and has more than OECD average (27%). Finally, two
doubled in two years, rising from 8 GB For the first time, the OECD is publish- accession countries exceed the OECD
in June 2022 to 17 GB by June 2024. ing data for six countries currently in average for mobile data usage (17
This reflects the ongoing shift toward the accession process: Brazil, Bulgaria, GB), with 22 GB per month per sub-
data-intensive mobile applications Croatia, Peru, Romania and Thailand. scription for Croatia and 19 GB per
and services and the increasing need Three of these countries, members of month for Peru.

Reliance Jio Set to Overtake T-Mobile as World’s Largest FWA Provider

Indian telecoms major Reliance Jio is company added 0.74 million FWA at 13.51 million, while its wireless
on track to become the world’s largest customers during the month. broadband subscribers reached
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider 480.96 million.
by subscriber base, surpassing “RJio’s FWA (including UBR) stood
US-based T-Mobile, according to an at 6.88 million. This, compared to Bharti Airtel followed with a 30.99%
analyst report. T-Mobile (US player, and the largest share in the broadband segment.
FWA subs base globally) FWA subs
ICICI Securities, citing data from the base was at 6.85 mn in March 2025. Both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, at
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India We believe RJio is on a path to present, dominate the Indian telecom
(Trai), said Reliance Jio’s total 5G FWA become the dominant player by subs services market.
subscriber base, including unlicensed for FWA globally by end-June 2025,”
band radio (UBR), reached 6.88 million analysts Sanjesh Jain, Mohit Mishra India’s telecom subscriber base grew
in May. and Aparajita Chakraborty wrote in marginally to 1.207 billion in May, with
the report. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel
T-Mobile had 6.85 million subscribers accounting for over 99% of net
in March. Overall, Reliance Jio maintained its additions. The two operators jointly
leadership in the Indian broadband added 4.35 million of the total 4.36
Reliance Jio reclassified about 1 market with a 50.72% share in May, million new subscribers during the
million UBR subscribers under its FTTx comprising both wired and wireless month.
category in May, leaving its net FWA segments. Its total fixed wired
subscriber base at 5.9 million. The broadband subscriber base stood

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